A review of energy sector in the BBIN sub-region

ABSTRACT

Although the BBIN (Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal) sub-region shares identical socio-economic characteristics and secures considerable benefits from energy co-operation and power grid connectivity, it is still far behind to grasp its full potential. This paper reviews existing publications and papers from a viewpoint of resource distribution, energy supply, prospects, and policies related to power sector development and cross-border power trading with a detailed consideration of the spatial variation of the largest country, India. The member countries face similar energy problems and the challenge remains in overcoming growing energy demand by attaining emission reduction targets. Limited production but increasing use of imported fuel have also raised serious environmental and energy security concerns. The wide variation in the energy resource endowments among the countries, particularly with hydropower, coal, and natural gas presents both opportunity and challenge in sub-regional energy collaboration.

KEYWORDS:

• South Asia
• energy security
• energy co-operation
• cross-border power trade

Acknowledgments

We thank Mr Etienne R. D. Sanguinetti and Mr Sonu Khanal for a thorough revision of the manuscript. Authors are grateful to anonymous reviewers and all the editors in the process of manuscript revision.

Disclosure statement

The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish.

Declaration

The map used throughout the paper is without prejudice to the status of or sovereignty over any territory, to the delimitation of international frontiers and boundaries and the name of any territory, city or area.

Data availability

All the data used in this study will be made available upon request to the corresponding author.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science KAKENHI [grant numbers JP17H03531, JP20H02679] and by the Environment Research and Technology Development Fund 2–1704 of the Environmental Restoration and Conservation Agency.