SAARC Energy Regulators to establish Regional Regulatory Body for cross border trade
View(s):SAARC Energy Regulators, a movement of energy regulators representing all SAARC member counties, held its second meeting earlier this week in Colombo with the participation of India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Director, SAARC Secretariat, Ali Haider Altaf opened the 2nd Meeting of the SAARC Energy Regulators and in accordance with the SAARC practice, the leader of the delegation of the host country, Sri Lanka, was elected as Chairperson of the SAARC Energy Regulators Meeting, the organisers said in a media release.
At the meeting, delegations of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Pakistan made presentations on the existing Regulatory Mechanisms, Rules, Methodologies and Processes of respective Member States. SAARC Energy Centre (SEC) which is the technical arm of SAARC Secretariat delivered a presentation on the activities of the Centre and the way forward. The Second meeting also reviewed and updated the SAARC Plan of Action on Energy Regulations (Electricity) to address the regulatory issues and remove possible regulatory barriers for cross-border trade/exchange of electricity among the SAARC Member States.
The members also agreed to have a Regional Regulatory Body to oversee the harmonisation/ coordination of regulation, codes and standards for the electricity grid, tariff determination principals and dispute resolutions, the release said. It was also decided that the SAARC Secretariat may prepare a calendar for the meetings of National Energy Regulatory Authorities of the member states and circulate to all national focal points by March 2016.