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
Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy, Maldives
Md. Habibur Rahman
Senior Secretary, Power Division, Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Bangladesh
Jiwan Acharya
Principal Energy Specialist, Sectors Group, ADB
Sujata Gupta
Director, South Asia Energy Team, ADB
Sushil Chandra Tiwari
Secretary (Energy), Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Nepal