Geopolitics of Power Trading in South Asia: Opportunities and Challenges

Mahendra P. Lama

Dr. Mahendra P. Lama is Professor at Centre for South, Central, Southeast Asian, and Southwest Pacific Studies, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. read more

It is now generally accepted that energy security could be significantly enhanced through sustained cross-border exchanges in many regions. In South Asia, however, regional energy security cooperation has seriously remained entangled in geopolitics. The possibility of overexploitation of natural resources such as coal, natural gas and oil reserves and the low level of political confidence in sharing hydro resources have placed serious obstacles to enhancing the level of energy security in the region. This article looks at the bountiful opportunities that exist for South Asia to collectively harness diverse energy sources so as to increase the level of energy security in the region and thus sustain higher economic growth.