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  1. One South Asia

Why #OneSouthAsia?

Energy

Dependable supplies of electricity are vital to fuel South Asia's growing population and economy.

 

Interconnected power systems offer a number of benefits. They reduce the need to build reserve capacity in individual systems, create economies of scale to generate electricity with lower per-unit costs, and offer global climate benefits.

 

Electricity supply and demand patterns in some South Asian nations are complementary, especially at the sub-regional level. For example, wet seasons in Bhutan and Nepal, which produce hydropower, coincide with summer peak demand in India and Bangladesh, creating power export opportunities. Dry seasons in Nepal coincide with lower demand in India, offering an opportunity for Nepal to import power from India.  

 

Among many other activities, we supported the development of the first high capacity electricity transmission link between Nepal and India. This allows Nepal to import electricity for short-term needs during its dry seasons while creating conditions for future exports to the sub-region.

 

ľ¹ÏÓ°Ôº works with a number of partners, including the South Asia Regional Trade Facilitation Program, the Program for Asia Connectivity and Trade, and the South Asia Water Initiative, to provide analyses and technical assistance to support cross-border connectivity. Some activities are listed below.

 

 

 

Related:

 

What's New

Jan. 31, 2022 - Nascent power trade among Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal is poised to expand as nations harmonize energy policies, hydropower plans, technical specifications, and commercial requirements.
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World Bank board approves loan to support interregional power trading

June 25, 2021 - With support from the Program for Asia Connectivity and Trade, a new project will help Uzbekistan's National Electric Grid develop regional electricity trade by expanding transmission infrastructure with Afghanistan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan.
Read the press release Arrow

April 25, 2021 - A bold energy venture will boost electricity and living standards for thousands of Afghans. The Central Asia-South Asia project, or CASA-1000, supports power trade between Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan, and Afghanistan and Pakistan.

March 31, 2021 - When completed in 2024, the CASA-1000 project will allow Tajikistan and the Kyrgyz Republic to export about 1,300 MW of surplus hydropower to Pakistan and Afghanistan by linking the electrical grids of the four countries.

Sept. 19, 2020 - The Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board, a government-owned utility, aims to attract more professional women employees by offering technical training and changing the work environment to include daycare for children.
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Nepal to use $100 million credit agreement to reform energy sector

June 24, 2020 - Nepal and the World Bank signed a $100 million development credit to improve the financial viability and governance of the energy sector and integrate Nepal's hydropower with the regional electricity market.
Read the press release Arrow

June 30, 2020 - Small steps by one woman can lead to big institutional changes. Just ask Kinley Wangmo, a human resources manager with Bhutan Power Corporation and new member of the WePOWER network.

June 23, 2020 - Daily electricity consumption and evening light intensity during a national lockdown for the coronavirus can proxy for economic activity in India.

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Surplus electricity in 2 nations will go to Pakistan, Afghanistan

The Central Asia-South Asia (CASA) project is a first step toward realizing the potential for energy trade between Central Asia and South Asia. By linking the four national power grids, CASA will ensure a steady source of revenues to Tajikistan and Kyrgyz Republic that can be used to alleviate acute winter energy shortages and ease power shortfalls in Pakistan and Afghanistan during the peak summer season.

Publications

Jan. 29, 2020 - This assessment was produced as part of a new regional network, WePOWER, that aims to help recruit, train, connect, and retain women working in the power sector throughout South Asia.

Feb 18, 2020 - At least 22 million small farmers in South Asia are not connected to the power grid and are potential users of solar water pumps. Bangladesh and India are incentivizing grid-connected farmers to adopt solar water pumps to reduce demand on grids.

Nov 15, 2019 - More than 5,300 women participated in workshops, study tours, training events, student internships, and other activities in 2019 organized by the WePOWER network and its sponsors.

Oct. 8, 2019 - South Asia's power industry is on the cusp of a transformation driven by technology, environmental awareness, and customer expectations.A World Bank¨Cfunded study developed guidance for deploying advanced metering infrastructure and analytics systems.

Sept. 23, 2019 - This report packages international know-how around the key steps South Asian utilities face in designing advanced metering infrastructure (AMI). Data analytics generated by AMI can lead to greater efficiency measures, policies, and regulations.

June 25, 2019 - Mini grids have the potential to distribute power to 500 million people globally by 2030. Afghanistan, Myanmar, India, and Nepal currently have the most mini grids, according to the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program.

March 1, 2019 - Nepal needs a two-fold to four-fold increase in electricity investments to meet domestic demand and to realize its export potential.

July 10, 2018 - This research paper finds cross-border transmission interconnections and regional power trading would promote hydropower in South Asia. The region has more than 350 gigawatts of potential hydropower, but only 20 percent has been exploited so far.

Dec. 12, 2018 - Electricity demand is growing as South Asian economies expand. Inefficient generation, misallocated fuel, distribution losses, and inadequate pricing of emissions are limiting the power supply.

Oct. 24, 2018 - A platform developed in the Central Asia South Asia Transmission Project (CASA-1000) helps Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan sell surplus hydropower to Afghanistan and Pakistan. The South Asia Regional Trade Integration Program supported the project.

September 2018 - Economic development in Northeastern India lags despite substantial estimated energy reserves and hydropower potential. The region has an underdeveloped power system, with limited access in rural areas and bottlenecks in the transmission network.

Dec. 1, 2017 - The report surveys the challenges facing Bangladesh's power sector today and makes recommendations to help the country reach its goal of universal access to electricity by 2021.

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Cecile Fruman
Director
Regional Integration and Engagement - South Asia