27th Meeting of the Regional Power Trade Coordination Committee

The 27th Meeting of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Regional Power Trade Coordination Committee was held on 15 October 2020 via web-based conferencing. Asian Development Bank (ADB) organized the virtual meeting, chaired by The National Energy Administration of the People's Republic of China (PRC). The meeting discussed (i) the results and the progress by the Working Group for Planning and Operation (WGPO) and the Working Group on Regulatory Issues (WGRI), (ii) updated country power sector development information, and (iii) updates on various initiatives in the GMS, and (iv) future activities to support systematic cross-border power trade in the GMS.

Ms. Wei Xiaowei, Deputy Director General, Department of International Cooperation, National Energy Administration, PRC, in her welcome remarks, reiterated RPTCC's commitment to promote regional power trade and provide a platform to exchange information on policies, business, and technologies. She noted that RPTCC facilitates sharing regional power generation resources, electricity accessibility, and promotes low carbon and renewable energy utilization.

Mr. Toru Kubo, Officer-in-Charge, Energy Division, Southeast Asia Department, ADB, served as meeting co-chair. He congratulated policy makers, regulators, and stakeholders for keeping the lights on amid the difficult time, enabling the smooth flow and operation of essential health services, education, and businesses.

The meeting held sessions on the following:

• GMS Regional Master Plan Study: Draft Final Report

• Update on Integrated Resource Planning with SEA and extended scope for Clean Energy Development in the GMS

• Regional Investment Framework 2022 and GMS Economic Cooperation Program Strategic Framework 2030

• Country Updates

• Pre-Feasibility Studies and design of Myanmar - Lao PDR Interconnection project to trade 300 MW

• GMS Grid Code - Knowledge Product Compliance assessment of GMS Grid Code, and Operationalization of the same

• Emerging Trends in GMS Power Sector Development: Private sector engagement and Integration of Renewable Energy

• Overview of power sector in each GMS country and impacts of COVID-19 pandemic

The meeting was attended by members of the RPTCC from the GMS countries and Southeast Asia Energy Division of ADB.