South Asia needs to build energy cooperation, says expert
Energy policy specialist Dr. Charles K. Ebinger spoke on the inner workings of South Asia’s energy sector and its future prospects at the launch of his latest book. The event was organised in the Indian capital by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and the Brookings Institution.
New Delhi: Mutual mistrust, political instability and bad governance have resulted in a lack of progress in energy cooperation in South Asia, said Dr. Charles K. Ebinger at an event at TERI University on Tuesday.
- Dr Charles Ebinger speaks at the launch of his book 'Energy and Security in South Asia: Cooperation or Conflict?'/ Photo credit: Emad Chishti/ OWSA
He was speaking at the launch of his latest book, Energy and Security in South Asia: Cooperation or Conflict?.
Dr. Ebinger is the Director of the Energy Security Initiative at the US think-tank Brookings Institution and has worked extensively on domestic and international energy policy issues across the globe, especially in South Asia, the Middle East and Africa.
The book launch was preceded by a short talk from Dr. Ebinger, which was peppered with anecdotes from his work in various consultancy roles with almost every government in South Asia. Dr. Ebinger said he rued the fact that the book was more a catalogue of “missed opportunities” than success stories but also highlighted the potential for energy cooperation and the mutual socio-economic benefits that could be achieved.
He mentioned the key options for energy cooperation in the region, highlighting his failed attempts to broker an agreement between India and Nepal to develop hydropower in the Himalayan nation with the intention of exporting the electricity to its larger, energy-hungry neighbour.
The political instability in Nepal, which continues to this day, meant that the governments changed so fast that no consistent policy could ever be formulated let alone implemented. Pakistan also faces similar problems with its often weak and ineffectual governments.
Mistrust
Discussions revolved around the issue of the intense mistrust between South Asian nations which Dr. Ebinger revealed often bordered on the absurd as he indicated his exasperation and amazement at the intractability of various governments over the years.
Bhutan and India in contrast share very close relations and Bhutan’s economy has nearly doubled because of hydro-power electricity exports. Dr. Ebinger even suggested that long-term foes India and Pakistan should establish a trade in energy whereby the coal from deposits in the Thar Desert of Sindh province is supplied to the state of Gujarat in exchange for electricity to Lahore across the border of partitioned Punjab. He reminded the audience that the Indus water treaty was a success story with mutual benefits for both countries.
Dr. Ebinger pointed out the lack of private investment, especially from foreign sources, in the South Asian energy sector due the widespread corruption had hindered development as had the irresponsible wastage of electricity by farmers receiving free electricity subsidised by the state. He emphasised the need to create a “culture of payment for energy,” where even the poor pay what they can while the rich are prevented from engaging in illegal fee dodging.
