Harmonizing Electricity Laws In South Asia

Electricity shortages in South Asia are adversely impacting the region's socioeconomic development. Energy trade is seen as a solution to this challenge. The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Framework Agreement for Energy Cooperation (Electricity) is a key step in realizing regional trade in energy. To support implementation of the framework agreement, ADB and SAARC in Law are working to improve legal and regulatory harmonization in the energy sector. This report identifies the legal, regulatory, technical, and commercial requirements for energy trade, and what each country in South Asia needs to do to make the framework agreement a reality. The recommendations, summarized in tables, provide an easy reference for policy makers and energy stakeholders in the region.

South Asia, home to nearly one-sixth of the global population, is one of the poorest regions in the world. Access to electricity in the region is low and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) member countries face acute electricity shortages, adversely impacting their socioeconomic development. Yet the region is endowed with hydropower potential, coal reserves, natural gas reserves, large renewable energy resources, and petroleum reserves. These can be harnessed to become key drivers of the region's growth-and energy trade has the potential to capitalize on this asset. This report culminates the work of ADB and SAARCLAW on regional energy trade. It identifies the legal, regulatory, technical, and commercial requirements for energy trade; and what each country needs to do to make the framework agreement a reality. The recommendations provide an easy reference for policy makers and energy stakeholders in the region. It is hoped that this report's recommendations, derived from the work of national consultants and regional and international experts, will contribute to the fulfillment of the framework agreement.

The Handbook of Energy Policy is a unique and novel reference for addressing the policy implications of energy demand and supply from their economic, political, social, planning, and environmental aspects. The Handbook of Energy Policy provides several studies from the global, regional, national, or local perspectives that are of wider policy significance. Studies provided in this book are of interest to the international organizations, governments, public and private sector entities, local communities, universities, research institutions, and other non-governmental organizations. Topics covered in the Handbook of Energy Policy are including energy security, energy poverty, energy finance, energy pricing, energy and environment, energy and sustainability, energy and growth, energy efficiency, energy trade, technological innovation and energy, energy transition, energy nexus studies, economics, and policy of fossil fuels, economics, and policy of renewable and green energies. The policy recommendations provided in all chapters are supported by a rigorous empirical or theoretical analysis.

This book explores the linkages among economic development, energy, and environment. An increase in economic activity is correlated with a higher level of energy consumption, which in turn leads to an increase in environmental pollution. Due to the influence of greenhouse gases, the higher the concentration of pollutants in the atmosphere, the higher the temperature, which ultimately leads to climate change. Under these imminent dangers, the role of economic and energy efficiency policies becomes important for ecological sustainability. The present policies, however, in various instances, have failed to address these issues. Hence, this book embarks not only to suggest modifications to improve the efficacy of the current policies but also to recommend to the policymakers, new and more effective policies for their respective countries. The book is bifurcated into two sections: The Economics and Policy of Sustainable Energy section discusses renewable energy policy responses to observed Impact of climate change using DPSIR Framework; the energy utilization strategies for transportation and commercial activities of Charland Bangladesh; the relationship of market globalization with the Indian energy sector; the socioecological effects of globalization from an energy perspective brought to a local standpoint; the seasonal disaster-induced energy consumption strategies of the char-dwellers of Bangladesh with respect to their domestic chores and agricultural activities; trends in GDP growth and energy usage in India; cross-border trade of electricity; and the events that the oil and gas industry has already faced and possible strategies it can adopt to overcome the recession caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Economics and Policy of Environmental Sustainability section analyses topics such as the role of hyper-globalization in spreading the pandemic across countries as threat to human ecology; the current scenario of environmental consequences, and future prospects of plastic pollution; the surface air temperature anomalies over selected countries of Africa; the impaired roles of the female gender in community natural resource exploitation in Ndop; the operational expansion strategies for garnering better output in terms of livelihood and conservation; opportunity for environmental justice and rethinking global community; linking indigenous traditional knowledge and sustainable development goals in the North-Western Himalayas; and recommendations to manage dry forest carbon stock. This book is a rich resource for policymakers, guiding them through untraveled pathways. Moreover, it is an extremely helpful resource for researchers, practitioners, industry professionals as well as students in the fields of energy, environment, and sustainable development with flavour of economics and policy.

The South Asia Regional Energy Study was completed as an important component of the technical assistance project Preparing the Energy Sector Dialogue and South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Energy Center Capacity Development. It involved examining regional energy trade opportunities among all the member states of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. The study provides interventions to improve regional energy cooperation in different timescales, including specific infrastructure projects which can be implemented during these periods.

This book highlights various challenges and opportunities for regional cooperation and development in South Asia. In light of the ongoing globalization process, the contributors investigate how socio-economic developments are changing the spatial organization of production as well as the profile of cities and landscapes, are stimulating the creation of maritime, terrestrial and aerial channels, and are putting increasing pressures on natural and environmental resources. The book is divided into four parts: The first part analyses the increasing intensity of regional trade, migration and investment flows; the second focuses on channels and adapted spaces. The third part addresses sustainability and natural resources, while the fourth highlights institutional issues.

This report analyzes how closer regional connectivity and economic integration between South Asia and Southeast Asia can benefit both regions, with a focus on the role played by infrastructure and public policies in facilitating this process. It examines major developments in South Asian–Southeast Asian trade and investment, economic cooperation, the role of economic corridors, and regional cooperation initiatives. In particular, it identifies significant opportunities for strengthening these integration efforts as a result of the recent opening up of Myanmar in political, economic, and financial terms. This is particularly the case for land-based transportation—highways and railroads—and energy trading. The report’s focus is on connectivity in a broad sense, covering both hardware and software, including investment in infrastructure, energy trading, trade facilitation, investment financing, and support for national and regional policies.