September 26, 2013

Five SAARC countries, including India and Pakistan, discussed the issue of power shortage in the region.

“Development of energy sector is at top priority in Pakistan. We would welcome interconnectivity and for this a regional framework within SAARC can be extended further,” Ambassador of Pakistan to India Salman Bashir said, adding that it is the time to move beyond politics.

“At present, 5,000 MW is required in Afghanistan, whereas generation is only 150 MW the country is importing 840 MW of power,” Ambassador of Afghanistan to India Shaida Mohammad Abdali said.

However, Bangladesh showed some optimism as High Commissioner of Bangladesh to India Tariq A Karim said that the new power link between India and Bangladesh has 500 MW capacity of which 250 MW will start flowing very shortly.

High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India Prasad Kariyawasam added that Sri Lanka has 10,000 MW wind generation potential. Not all of this can be used and there would be a surplus, which can be traded in the SAARC region.