USAID facilitates progress in institutionalization of South Asia Regional Power Market Forum (SAFEM)
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been working to promote regional energy cooperation and cross border electricity trade (CBET) since 2000 through the South Asia Regional Initiative for Energy (SARI/E) program. Under it, a regional forum of power market players, called the South Asia Forum for Electricity Market (SAFEM), was conceptualized.
With SARI/E’s conclusion in September 2022, USAID’s South Asia Regional Energy Partnership (SAREP) has taken forward the promotion of CBET in South Asia. This includes supporting institutionalization of SAFEM and undertaking its interventions for a regional power market development.
To facilitate this, SAREP organized an online discussion on May 30, 2023, wherein prospective members of SAFEM – power market participants from Bhutan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka joined virtually. The meeting opened with remarks by Monali Zeya Hazra, Regional Energy Manager and Clean Energy Specialist, USAID India, followed by a presentation and a discussion moderated by SAREP. Participants from South Asia agreed to operationalize the forum and provided inputs on modalities and initial key activities to undertake.
39 participants attended the virtual event including prospective members from Druk Green Power Corporation, Bangladesh Power Development Board, Nepal Electricity Authority, PTC India, Grid Controller of India, Bhutan Power System Operator, India Electricity Exchange, Hindustan Power Exchange (HPX) Ltd., Power Grid Company of Bangladesh Limited (PGCB), Bhutan Power Corporation Ltd., Independent Power Producers’ Association Nepal, and energy experts, and representatives from key organizations who contributed to the depth and breadth of the discussions.
One of SAREP’s key goals is facilitation of 4 TWh of CBET. Advancing regional grid integration through CBET will serve to promote private sector participation, renewable energy consumption, and enhance energy security in South Asia.
Agenda
Presentation
