REPORT OF THE
FIFTH MEETING OF BIMSTEC ENERGY SECTOR
COMMITTEE OF EXPERTS / OFFICIALS

27 January 2005, Yangon, Union of Myanmar.

INTRODUCTION

The Fifth Meeting of the BIMSTEC Energy Sector Committee of Experts/Officials was held on 27 January 2005 at Dusit Inya Lake Hotel in Yangon, Union of Myanmar.

The Meeting was attended by delegates from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand. The List of delegates appears as ANNEX A.

The Meeting was inaugurated by H.E. Brig. Gen. Lun Thi, Minister for Energy.

Opening remarks by the Chairperson

The Meeting was chaired by Director General U Soe Myint of the Energy Planning Department, the leader of the Myanmar delegation. The meeting commenced with the presentation of Chairperson on the Energy Security and Energy Demand Growth in East Asia. The emphasis was made on the point that the energy security issue can be resolved with closer cooperation among the concerned countries.

Report on the 7th BIMSTEC Senior Officials meeting, the 6th BIMSTEC Ministerial meeting and the 1st BIMSTEC Summit meeting
The Chairperson briefed the meeting on the outcomes of the 7th BIMSTEC Senior Officials Meeting, the 6th BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting and the 1st BIMSTEC Summit Meeting pertaining to the energy cooperation program.

The meeting took note of the recent developments in the BIMSTEC Energy Sector Cooperation Program and welcomed the BIMSTEC Energy Ministers' Meeting proposed at the First BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok.

Review of the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the BIMSTEC Energy Sector Cooperation Program
The Chairperson briefed the meeting on the TOR for the BIMSTEC Energy Sector Cooperation Program. The meeting deliberated on the possible expansion of the Cooperation Program as per the decisions of the leaders in the Summit. In this connection, the meeting took note of the fact that coal and hydro-power would play an important role in meeting the energy needs of the region.

Report of the lead country on the Status of the BIMSTEC Energy Cooperation Program
The status was reported by Myanmar as the lead country.

The meeting took note of the report of the Tripartite Meeting of the Energy Ministers of Bangladesh, India and Myanmar and agreed to mention the outcome in the report to be submitted to the SOM in Dhaka.

Country Presentations by new member states
A country presentation on Bhutan was made by Mr. Karma Tshering.

Expressing confidence to be benefited from BIMSTEC Cooperation Program, Mr. Dilip Kumar Paudel of Nepal highlighted the hydropower potential in Nepal for which the Government of Nepal has formulated a liberal Hydropower Development Policy to attract Foreign Investment. The Nepalese delegate reported to the meeting that Nepal will send the Technical Teams to the next BIMSTEC Meeting for the comprehensive participation.

Status of Energy Infrastructure Development Projects and Way Forward

- Trans-BIMSTEC Gas Pipeline Project

The status of the feasibility study of the Trans-BIMSTEC Gas Pipeline Project was presented by Mr. Wisnu Wongsomboon of Thailand.
The meeting acknowledged that feasibility study made by Thailand is a good attempt and would be a good reference in the future regional gas interconnections. The meeting requested Thailand to extend the study to cover all the BIMSTEC member countries.
U San Lwin of Myanmar reported to the meeting on the Petroleum Prospects in Myanmar Offshore

- BIMSTEC Trans-Power Exchange and Development Project

BIMST-EC Trans-power Exchange and Development Project Concept Paper was presented by Mr. Prutichai Chonglertvanichkul of Thailand.
U Tun Naing of Myanmar reported to the meeting on the BIMSTEC Cooperation in Trans-Power Exchange and Development Concept Paper.
The meeting noted the rich hydro-power potential of the BIMSTEC member countries especially India, Myanmar, Bhutan and Nepal. Meeting also observed that bi-lateral programs have been going on among some of the BIMSTEC member countries to develop the hydro-power resources in the BIMSTEC region.

Status of Development of New and Renewable Energy Development Project.

Project Proposal for Utilizing the Biomass Gasifier System for Village Electrification and Water Pumping was presented by U Aye Kyaw of Myanmar proposing to implement Phase II of the Project. The Chair emphasized that this Project is a Renewable Energy Project which is implemented with the support of the Indian Government and is symbolic of the good cooperation among the BIMSTEC members.
U Aung Myint of Myanmar reported to the meeting on Renewable Energy Current Status in Myanmar.
Ms. Akanksha Chaurey of TERI, India reported to the meeting on status of Implementation of the Development of New and Renewable Sources of Energy Projects in the BIMSTEC Region. The meeting took note of the fact that there have been some delays in realizing the Projects which are still in the pipeline.
The meeting also took note of the benefit that would be shared among the member countries, from the ongoing Project "Strengthening Education Infrastructure and Improving Access to Education through the use of Renewable Energy Technologies". The Chair also reported to the meeting that the funding for this Project would be contributed by New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) of Japan.

Future Directions and other matters

(8.1)	The meeting agreed that the following recommendations be forwarded to the Bangkok Working Group: -
i)	the report on the status of BIMSTEC Energy Sector Cooperation Programme to be submitted to SOM in Dhaka would, interalia, mention the outcome of the Tripartite meeting of the Energy Ministers of Bangladesh, India and Myanmar held on 12-13 January, 2005 in Yangon.
iii)	The Energy Sector Cooperation Program will be expanded to include: - a) Biofuel. b) Energy Efficiency and Energy Conservation Technologies. c) Coal Energy. d) Studies for Energy Accessibility to the rural population.
iv)	Thailand to expand the feasibility study for Trans-BIMSTEC Gas Pipeline to include Bhutan, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
v)	Thailand to coordinate a Task Force to initiate the BIMSTEC Trans-Power Exchange and Development Project on the lines of concept paper referred to in para 6.4 starting with preparations of TOR for the Task Force and MOU to be signed among the member countries. Thailand will nominate a focal point to whom each member country will submit the names of 2 participants in the Task Force.
vi)	India to organize a Task Force meeting to review the Renewable Energy Cooperation Programs on the pipeline and to suggest to the next Experts/Officials Meeting on how to proceed in this matter.
(vii)	The member countries should make use of the offer by India of 50 BIMSTEC scholarships for each member country for training in relevant energy fields and the sponsorship of Sri Lanka of 2 scholarships for each member country for training in the field of energy efficiency and conservation.
(viii)	Each member country to nominate its focal point to oversee and coordinate the cooperation in Energy Sector.
(ix)	Each member country to support the establishment of Energy Data Base in the BIMSTEC Energy Information Centre located at http://www.bimstec-energy.org.mm.
(x)	The Chairperson / current lead country to report to the SOM, Dhaka of the offer of India and Sri Lanka to take over as lead country.