Energy Security and Economic Growth in South Asia

Abstract

Energy security and economic growth are interrelated. South Asia is at a critical juncture today. Development is the overriding priority for the region because of the high incidence of poverty, but energy is proving to be a critical constraint. The entire region is suffering from an acute energy crisis. Firstly, South Asian countries are confronted with the huge challenge of securing energy to sustain rapid economic growth and meeting the rising aspirations of the people. Secondly, the region is home to a huge population that lacks access to clean forms of energy. A large section of the population, particularly in rural areas lacks access to electricity and relies on the traditional use of biomass for cooking. With limited domestic energy sources, most South Asian countries are also highly dependent on energy imports, particularly crude oil, from other regions. Thirdly, on the issue of energy security SAARC, countries need to establish a platform of common interest. There are three objectives of this chapter: exploring new alternatives of energy sources of South Asian States, searching for relationship between energy security and economic growth, and re-thinking about an alternative policy options regarding energy security in South Asia.

The important contribution of renewable energy technologies in overcoming Pakistan's energy crisis: Present challenges and potential opportunities

“…Considering various economic and environmental benefits, Pakistan has adopted the Alternative Renewable Energy Policy (AREP) 2019, an energy policy that intends to increase the share of renewable energy by 2030. 34,35 However, in contrast to the rest of the Asian countries as shown in Table 1, this energy policy has headed in the opposite direction, abandoning previous commitments to wind, hydro and solar power. 36 The AREP reduced the Indicative Generation Capacity Expansion Plan (IGCEP)-2021 target for power generation from renewable energy sources.…”

Impact of Social Media on Geopolitics and Economic Growth: Mitigating the Risks by Developing Artificial Intelligence and Cognitive Computing Tools

“…On the other hand, if geopolitical conditions are not favourable, then there would likely be discrepancies in the economy of the country [ 20 ]. The example of Afghanistan could be relevant here, which struggles from the poor geopolitical situation due to unfriendly relations with the neighbouring countries and poor local management [ 23 ]. Here, social media may play its role in influencing both the geopolitical outlook and economic growth of the country.…”