Regional Session

Policy, Technology, and Finance in South Asia’s Energy Security and Transition

Organized by: Asian Development Bank (ADB)

Thursday, 6 June 2024

2:00 - 5:30 p.m. (GMT +8) | Auditorium Hall 2

Countries in South Asia have made ambitious targets towards clean energy transition. Accelerating the energy transition calls for enhancing flexibility in energy systems and pushing boundaries to increase the penetration of renewables to meet these targets. Cross border electricity trade has immense opportunity for decarbonizing power sector in South Asia and meeting seasonal demand and supply gap, through the development of large-scale cleaner, greener and sustainable energy infrastructure & facilitating renewable energy grid integration in South Asia. Installed capacity of renewables is only a fraction of the total potential renewable energy resources that could be utilized. Cross border trading of excess solar energy and hydropower could also play an important role in clean energy transition, grid balancing and energy security in South Asia. This will require countries, among others, establish suitable policies and an enabling environment as well as mobilize public and private capital to promote regional power trade for carbon-neutral South Asia and beyond.

AGENDA

2:00 - 2:25 p.m.

Nepal: Coffee Table Book Launch

Master of Ceremony: Jiwan Acharya, Principal Energy Specialist, ADB

Welcome Remarks

Takeo Konishi, Director General, South Asia Department, ADB

Special Remarks

Yingming Yang, Vice-President, Office of the Vice-President (South, Central and West Asia), ADB

Remarks

Sushil Chandra Tiwari, Secretary (Energy), Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Nepal

Launch of the Coffee Table Book

Vote of Thanks

Arnaud, Cauchois, Country Director, Nepal Resident Mission, ADB

2:25 - 3:30 p.m.

Part I: Dialogue with Senior Policy Makers on Clean Energy Transition

The first part of the dialogue will focus on high level plans, policies, strategies countries have adopted and challenges faced to promote transition to clean energy.

Moderator: Sujata Gupta, Director, South Asia Energy Team, ADB

Panel Discussion

Muaviyath Mohamed, State Minister, Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy, Maldives

Md. Habibur Rahman, Senior Secretary of Power, Bangladesh

Abha Lokeshchandra, Additional Chief Secretary (Energy) – Government of Maharashtra, India

Chandana Wijeysinghe, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Power and Energy, Sri Lanka

Sushil Chandra Tiwari, Secretary (Energy), Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Nepal

Q&A

3:30 - 4:00 p.m.

Coffee Break

4:00- 5:30 p.m.

Part II: Dialogue with Champions: Innovations, Initiatives and Impact

The second part of the dialogue will focus on success stories various champions have led towards transition to clean energy journey.

Moderator: Jiwan Acharya, Principal Energy Specialist, ADB

Scene Setting: Vikas Gaba, Partner, KPMG

Panel Discussion

Kul Man Ghising, Managing Director, NEA

Rakesh Kumar, Managing Director, Assam Power Distribution Company Limited

Md. Alamgir Morshed, Chief Executing Officer, Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL), Bangladesh

Ahmed Ali, Director General - Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy, Maldives

Jaicy Paul, Chief General Manager, State Bank of India (SBI), India

Nalinda Ilangakoon, Chairman, Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), Sri Lanka

SPEAKERS

Muaviyath Mohamed

Muaviyath Mohamed

Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy, Maldives

Md. Habibur Rahman

Md. Habibur Rahman

Senior Secretary, Power Division, Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Bangladesh

Jiwan Acharya

Jiwan Acharya

Principal Energy Specialist, Sectors Group, ADB

Sujata Gupta

Sujata Gupta

Director, South Asia Energy Team, ADB

Sushil Chandra Tiwari

Sushil Chandra Tiwari

Secretary (Energy), Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Nepal

PRESENTATIONS