SANEI: Completed Studies: Abstract

Economic Reforms and Power Sector in South Asia: Scope and Challenges for Cross Border Trade

The objective of this study is to examine the need for power sector reforms in South Asia and assess the importance and implications of cross border power trade in the region. The study proposes to analyse:

	The state of power sector reform in South Asia
	Lessons to be learnt by the SAARC member countries from the experiences of each other in the management of power sector in the post-liberalised scenario
	The likely extent of power generation in the region which has to be marketed across the border
	Possibility of power purchase from across the border in South Asia and the cost involved in transmission lines, power grids and other sharing mechanism
	Initiative taken for the cross-border gas pipelines
	Possibilities of an umbrella agreement among the SAARC members regarding co-operation in the power sector
	The basis of determination of power tariff
	The experiences of other regional blocs dealing with other issues.

The main hypotheses of the study is, firstly, that cross border power trade with a comprehensive regional grid network will act as a major confidence building project in making the process of economic integration in South Asia a reality. Secondly, power trade could ultimately be a panacea for some of the development ills in the countries of South Asia.



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