The workshop on ‘Power Market Development in India: Key Lessons Learnt’ was held on April 21, 2016 at Mukti Hall, Power Division (MPEMR, GoB, Dhaka, Bangladesh). The workshop was organized by ‘Power Cell’, in robust collaboration with ‘South Asia Regional Initiative/Energy Integration (SARI/EI)’, ‘Integrated Research and Action for Development (IRADe) and ‘USAID’.

The inaugural session was chaired by Mr. Monowar Islam ndc, Secretary, Power Division, MPEMR, Bangladesh. Mr. Nasrul Hamid MP, Hon’ble State Minister, MPEMR, Govt. of Bangladesh and Mr. Md. AbulKalam Azad, Principal Secretary to the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Govt. of Bangladesh, attended the session as the chief guest and special guest respectively. Among the other distinguished guests of this session, Dr. Jyoti Parikh (Executive Director of IRADe), Dr. Karl Wurster (Deputy Director, Economic Growth Office, USAID), and Mr. V. K. Kharbanda (Project Director of SARI/EI, IRADe) were present.

The Director General of Power Cell- Mr. Mohammad Hossain presented the welcome speech. He thanked IRADe, SARI/EI and USAID for their cooperation in making this workshop a reality and hoped for their continuous support for a sustainable growth of the power sector in Bangladesh.

Mr. Md. AbulKalam Azad focused on the grid frequency and tariff regulations in the Indian power sector. He emphasized on learning from their experience to avoid the same mistakes for rapid development of the power sector in Bangladesh.

In order to increase regional power trade and harness the hydro power potential of the region, Mr. Monowar Islam notified that, Bangladesh will invest in hydro power project of Bhutan. He stressed the facts regarding energy security and per capita electricity consumption of the South Asian countries and called for action to improve the scenario.

Hon’ble State Minister, MPEMR, GoB, Mr. Nasrul Hamid MP highlighted the progress story of Bangladesh power sector in the recent years. He stated that the regional power trade with India has already started and plans are being developed for the expansion of the trade. Hon’ble State Minister urged India to step forward regarding the hydro power project in Bhutan. The challenges regarding fuel crisis were also mentioned by the Hon’ble State Minister. In his speech, he mentioned that the government of Bangladesh is working towards achieving ‘Vision 2021’ with brilliant initiatives for fuel diversification, renewable energy technology implementation and reviewing ‘Power System Master Plan’.

Dr. Jyoti Parikh and Dr. KurlWurster emphasized on increasing the regional power trade among South Asian countries and harnessing the hydro power potential of the region. Mr. V. K. Kharbanda presented the vote of thanks and expressed his hope that this workshop will set the tone for many more workshops in the future and help in identifying opportunities for the development of power market in South Asian region.The inaugural session ended with the launch of ‘Suggested Changes/Amendments in electricity policies/regulations/laws of SAC to promote CBET’.

The second session of the workshop was on ‘Evolution of Indian Power Sector and Development of Competitive Power Market in India: Key Laws, Policies and Regulations’. Mr. Mohan Menon (CEO, Balsa Consulting, New Delhi) presented on ‘History, Evolution and Institutional Structure of Indian Power Sector: Pre & Post Reform Era’ and ‘Competitive Bidding Framework in India’. The other presentation of the session was on ‘Development of Competitive Power Market in India: Key Laws, Policies and Regulations’ by Mr. M. N. Ravi Shankar (CEO & Head India Power, Queensland Coal Corporation, Delhi). Both speakers highlighted different challenges faced by the Indian Power Sector and analyzed the formulation of different policies and regulations to overcome these.

‘Role of Transmission Agencies and Power Exchanges in the development of Indian Power Market’ was the main topic of the third session of the day. Dr. Salim Mahmud (Member, BERC) chaired the session with Mr. Md. Rakib Hossain (Addl. Secy., Plg& RE, Power Division, MPEMR, GoB) present as the co-chair. Mr. S. K. Soonee (CEO, POSOCO, India), Mr. Harish Saran (Executive Director, PTC Limited) and Mr. Rajesh Kumar Mediratta (Director, India Energy Exchange Ltd) were the keynote speakers of the session. The presentation topics were respectively ‘Role of Transmission and System Operators and integration of Regional grid in the development of Indian Power Market: Key Challenges and Lessons Learnt’, ‘Role of power traders in India and opportunity for cross border power market: Basic concepts, power procurement planning, governing regulations and practices (long, medium and short term)’ and ‘Role of power exchanges in India: basic concepts, products and exchange operations’. The transmission system and regional grid development through policies and regulations in India, the evolution and progress of power trading and power exchange in India and changes in strategies to facilitate cross border trade were thoroughly discussed by the speakers.

The second technical session was followed by a high level panel discussion chaired by Mr. A. R. Khan (Chairman, BERC). Mr. S. K. Soonee, Mr. V. K. Kharbanda, Mr. Sher Khan (USAID) and Mr. Salim Mahmud participated as the panelists in the discussion. The panelists expected this workshop to be a stepping stone for future opportunities for exchanging views and increasing regional power trade. The panelists also emphasized on accountability and transparency in the power sector, infrastructural development and devising policies according to the vision of the country.