BIMSTEC Energy Ministers’ meeting to kick off in Thailand

BANGKOK, 4 March 2010 (NNT) – The Energy Minister’s meeting under the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multisectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) will be held in Bangkok tomorrow to discuss heightened mutual energy security between the member countries.

High on the agenda are topics on natural gas usage with research currently conducted by the Petroleum Authority of Thailand and electrical connectivity by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand. The meeting will also discuss the establishment of an energy center in India to exchange information, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Energy Kurujit Nakornthap said.

The official expressed his confidence that the cooperation would help Thailand develop investment plans for energy networks which would connect energy sources among the BIMSTEC member countries. Exchanges of experiences and knowledge on alternative energy and energy conservation will also be promoted.

On the eve of the meeting, senior energy officials from the member countries met in Bangkok on Thursday to make preparations for Friday’s meeting. The countries in BIMSTEC include Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bhutan and Nepal.