Saarc members asked to cooperate for energy needs

ISLAMABAD: South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) Energy Regulators Meeting Chairperson Tariq Saddozai on Wednesday stressed the need for cooperation to resolve energy issues in member countries.

Addressing the two-day meeting being held in the federal capital, he urged the Saarc energy regulators to make collective efforts for the development of efficient, conventional and renewable energy resources, strengthening of related transmission systems and cross-border electricity trade for their sustainable development.

Pakistan was already importing 100MW from Iran and CASA project would enable Afghanistan and Pakistan to import 1,300MW from Central Asian countries, he said. Pakistan had also submitted a draft memorandum of understanding (MoU) to India on importing 1,200MW.

Saddozai said that the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) Act envisages open access to transmission and distribution systems and Nepra Interim Power Procurement Regulations had been framed to allow foreign generation companies to sell electricity to power purchasers.

The power sector in Pakistan is in transition towards a competitive regime, which is targeted to be achieved by 2020, he said, adding that Pakistan had established one-window facilitators such as Pakistan Power Infrastructure Board (PPIB) and Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) to encourage private sector investment in electricity generation.

He said the power sector has witnessed success stories that lies ahead is beset with challenges, adding, "We believe that Saarc countries are facing similar issues and there is a need for alternative energy to offset dependence on imported and expensive fuels."

The Saarc Framework Agreement emphasised on mutual cooperation on development of efficient, conversational and renewable energy resources, energy efficiency and energy conservation sharing of knowledge and promoting competition.

Saddozai said that joint research, reeducation of losses and grid integration for renewable energy are low hanging fruits, adding that member countries could all benefit from each other on these subjects.

"We have benefitted from the experience of Saarc member states for determining tariff of HVDC line and received excellent feedback from member states through Saarc Energy Centre, he added.

The meeting of the Saarc energy regulators recognises that interactions and dialogues have to be established among the stakeholders of the sector, including the regulators in the member states in order to effectively materialise the issue of regional energy cooperation.

The first meeting of the Saarc energy regulators was held in Dhaka, Bangladesh in 2014 and the second in Colombo, Sri Lanka in 2016.

Earlier, the secretary cabinet in his inaugural speech said the Saarc member states are struggling with a massive gap in demand and supply, adding that there is a need to address energy security from a regional perspective.

To achieve regional cooperation, he said, there is a need to take various factors into account, including high investment cost, private participation, environment-affordability and right of way.

Harmonious energy policies, enabling legal environment and regulatory framework, are key tools for regional trade and investment. He expressed the hope that the member states would take advantage of the momentum created by this meeting and contribute to overcome the issues of power sector in the region.

Saarc Secretariat Director Ali Haider Altaf opened the meeting of the Saarc energy regulators and in accordance with the Saarc practice the leader of the delegation of the host country. Nepra chairman was elected as the chairperson of the Saarc energy regulators meeting. Delegations of participating states presented their country papers on the existing regulatory mechanisms, rules, methodologies and processes of respective members states.