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Islamabad, November 27, 2012 (PPI-OT): The leadership of the SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) and experts have urged upon the need for adoption of integrated approach to tap enormous potential in hydropower and alternative energy while terming it as an inevitable factor for sustainable growth and deepening of economic cooperation.
This was transpired in a seminar “Energy Cooperation in South Asia Commitment and new dimensions” organized by SAARC CCI in collaboration with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, which was inaugurated by Mr. Gireesh B. Pradhan Secretary, Ministry of new and alternative energy, India who emphasized for energy cooperation at bilateral and multilateral levels stressing that a shift towards alternative energy was drastically required to mitigate the global warming. Alternative energy in India contributes 12.7% to the total energy production presently.
Mr. Vikramjit Singh Sahney while delivering keynote address said that although the region had witnessed encouraging GDP growth (from 5.5% to 6.5%) during 2004-2010, un-interrupted supply of energy at affordable price was drastically needed to sustain this economic growth.
“It is unfortunate that the region is faced with huge shortage of electricity to the tune of 50,000 MW” said President SAARCCCI and urged for collective efforts to transform South Asia from an energy-starved to an energy efficient region.
Mr. Tariq Sayeed, former president of SAARC CCI said that despite the fact that the South Asia had the hydropower potential of more than 150,000 MW and estimated solar and wind power potential of more than half million MWs, the region was faced with 50,000 MW short-fall at presently. “ Since the energy demand in the region would be doubled by 2020, there was dire need to invest in energy related projects “ said Mr. Tariq Sayeed and urged for collective efforts to make SAARC grid functional.
Mr. Muhammad Iqbal Tabish, Secretary General, SAARC CCI said that lower per capita consumption of electricity was negatively affecting the Human Development Index of South Asia and emphasized for business friendly and flexible regulatory mechanism to encourage and promote energy cooperation in South Asia.
Mr. P.S. Bami, President India Energy noted huge disparity in terms of per capita consumption of electricity, which was only 779 Kw/h in India much lower in comparison of 30,000 Kw/h in USA and 2631 kw/h in China while 300 million people only in India had no access to electricity despite the fact that India had more potential of energy production against energy demand.
Mr. Kosala Wikramanayake, Vice President SAARC CCI from Sri Lanka, Mr. Subodh Kumar, Executive Programs, FNST, Dr. Arbind Prasad, Director General, FICCCI and energy experts like Mr. Mollah Amzad from Bangladesh, Mr. Mr Ashish Khanna, Lead Energy Specialist and India Energy Team Leader, World Bank , Mr Nitya Nanda, Fellow and Area Convenor (Centre for Global Agreements, Leg. and Trade), TERI, Mr. Gyanendra L. Pradhan, Chairman, SAARC CCI Council on Climate change, Energy and water Resources, Nepal and Mr. Kanwar Muhammad Javed Iqbal, Senior Research Associate-Environment, Sustainable Development Policy Institute, Pakistan addressed the Conference.
For more information, contact:
SAARC Chamber Of Commerce and Industry
Apex Business Organization of SAARC
House No. 397, Street 64, I-8/3, Islamabad- Pakistan
Tel: +9251 486 0611 -3, 831 6023
Fax: +9251 831 6024
Email: info@saarcchamber.org,
Website: www.saarcchamber.org