South Asia's Power Generation and Cross-Border Power Trading

South Asia makes up nearly one quarter of the world's population. Yet its per capita yearly electric power consumption is the 2nd lowest (just above the Sub Saharan Africa) compared to any regions and sub regions in the world. Access to power and meagre per capita consumption make South Asia one of the poorest regions in the world based on economic and human development indices. Limited indigenous energy resources of individual nations in South Asia are not enough to generate adequate power for rapid industrialization, economic and social development. Moreover, the availability of limited indigenous energy resources varies among South Asian nations. The power demand and supply also differ due to seasonal variability. With rapidly rising power demand in all South Asian countries, there are opportunities for cooperation and optimization of available generated power through cross-border power trade. This paper reviews power present generation in South Asia and highlights the potential for cross border power trade to boast regional economic development and prosperity.