Question: The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is a regional organization comprising … Member States.
(a) seven
(b) nine
(c) five
(d) ten
Ans: (a)
- On 12th April, 2017, the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi approved the proposal of the Ministry of Power for Signing of “Memorandum of Understanding for Establishment of the BIMSTEC Grid Interconnection”.
- It will be signed among member states of BIMSTEC at the upcoming 3rd BIMSTEC Energy Ministers’ Meeting to be held in Nepal shortly.
- This MoU will provide a broad framework for the Parties to cooperate towards the implementation of grid interconnections for the trade in electricity with a view to promoting rational and optimal power transmission in the BIMSTEC region. This MoU will facilitate:
- the optimization of using the energy resources in the region for mutual benefits on non-discriminatory basis subject to laws, rules and regulations of the respective Parties;
- the promotion of efficient, economic, and secure operation of power system needed through the development of regional electricity networks;
- the necessity of optimization of capital investment for generation capacity addition across the region; and
power exchange through cross border interconnections. - Background:
It is notable that the “Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation in BIMSTEC” was formulated in the first BIMSTEC Energy Ministers’ Conference held in New Delhi in October, 2005. It was decided that a Task Force led by Thailand, with representatives of member countries, will give a report on draft MoU for grid interconnections. MoU for establishment of BIMSTEC Grid Interconnection was finalized by the Task Force on 16th Mar 2015.
Reference:
http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=160976