India aims to trade electricity with Southeast Asia – sources

India aims to trade electricity with Southeast Asia – sources

BAMBOLIM, India - India is considering trading power with Southeast Asian countries through Myanmar and Thailand, five sources briefed on the matter said, as New Delhi looks to use its growing renewables capacity to boost regional diplomatic engagement. The grid linkages, which an industry official said could take at least four years to complete, follow India's effort to begin trading power with Middle Eastern countries such as the United Arab Emirates. The sources, who also include four power ministry officials, declined to be identified as the previously unreported plan has not been made public. India's federal power ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has been trying to promote closer political and economic ties with its neighbours, pushing back against China's growing regional influence. Indian energy officials are holding separate and group discussions with some countries on advancing regional power grid interconnections at ongoing Group of 20 (G20) ministerial meetings in the Indian state of Goa, the power ministry officials said. Support from G20 members is seen as key to winning backing from bankers and developers in making investment decisions, one of the ministry officials said. India has engaged France's EDF