Two SASEC energy sector meetings, the (i) Regional Workshop on Technical and Regulatory Challenges in Cross-Border Electricity Transmission Interconnections and (ii) Inter-governmental Meeting on the Progress of the SASEC Cross-Border Electricity Transmission Master Plan, were held on 8-9 April 2016 in New Delhi, India to promote coordinated and harmonious development of cross-border power interconnections to enable expanded regional power trading in the SASEC subregion.

On 8 April, the Regional Workshop on Technical and Regulatory Challenges in Cross-Border Electricity Transmission Interconnections highlighted the importance of enhanced cooperation among SASEC member countries in addressing technical and regulatory issues concerning cross-border power interconnection and trade. The Meeting discussed

• Technical and regulatory challenges and possible solutions on issues affecting ongoing efforts in interconnecting electricity transmission networks in SASEC countries;
• SASEC member countries' perspective, including the technical and regulatory point of view, on relevant cases of cross-border power interconnections, including Bangladesh-India, Bhutan-India, India-Nepal, and India-Sri Lanka interconnections; and
• Other subregional economic cooperation cases in the Greater Mekong Subregion, supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

On 9 April, the Inter-governmental Meeting on the Progress of the SASEC Cross-Border Electricity Transmission Master Plan—which is being conducted to ensure smooth cross-border transmission infrastructure planning and implementation—focused on moving the study forward, to enable SASEC countries to gain maximum economic benefits from an interconnected regional power system. The Meeting discussed

• Model approaches used in analyzing the optimum network of cross-border interconnections to maximize region-wide benefits from power trading;
• How the Study's timely and practical recommendations could provide more relevant technical and operational guidance to power sector officials; and
• Additional data and other requirements needed to complete the regional power system modeling analysis.

The Master Plan, overseen by the SASEC Electricity Transmission Utility Forum, is under development following agreement of the SASEC Energy Working Group meetings held in Bangkok, Thailand in 2011, and Thimphu, Bhutan in November 2012, and includes the request of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Energy Working Group to include all South Asian member countries.

The SASEC Energy Meetings were chaired by Mr. Ghanshyam Prasad, Director of the Ministry of Power of India, and attended by senior officials from energy/power agencies and other relevant institutions of SASEC countries, as well as staff and consultants of ADB.