A 20-member delegation of senior energy experts from the eight member countries of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) has left for Jakarta for discussions to enhance cooperation between SAARC and ASEAN countries in the field of energy, according to an official statement. SARRC comprises Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives. The delegation is led by Hilal. A. Raza, Director General, Hydrocarbon Development Institute of Pakistan who is also the Director of the SAARC Energy Centre, Islamabad. The delegation consisted of two energy experts from each SAARC member countries, namely Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka besides the representatives of the SAARC Secretariat Katmandu and the SAARC Energy Centre. The visit has been sponsored by the Asian Development Bank as part of its programme of capacity building among SAARC countries in energy cooperation through the establishment of SAARC Energy Centre in Pakistan as was agreed by the 13th SAARC Summit. The delegation will visit the ASEAN Centre for Energy, Jakarta, PGN, Bojonegara Station, Indonesia, the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand and PTT Oil and Gas Company of Thailand. During its one-week visit, the SAARC delegation will hold discussions with ASEAN counterparts to explore avenues of cooperation and learn from mutual experience in the fields of hydrocarbon exploration, energy trade including trans-national pipelines and power grids, energy policy formulation, energy efficiency initiatives and renewable energy development.
