The energy cooperation between Bangladesh and Nepal is potentially setting a precedent for regional collaboration in South Asia. Even though the time for signing the deal is yet to be set, recent developments suggest that an agreement could be formalised in the near future. We had conversations with Ram Krishna Khatiwada, a former Commissioner at the Electricity Regulatory Commission of Nepal, who was involved in the negotiations between the countries, about different aspects of the Kathmandu-Dhaka energy deal. We also delved into the prospect of the Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal (BBIN) Initiative’s energy framework; and how cooperation in the energy sector could connect a broader region that has often been marred by conflicts. Khatiwada was an important part of the delegation teams that negotiated with the Bangladeshi and Indian counterparts, related to energy trading and cross-border connectivity. He was one of the speakers at Energy Transition and Climate Finance Week at the Himalayan Climate Data Field Lab held in Kathmandu. This interview was conducted as a side conversation during the event, where he shared his views on the much-discussed energy deal and the BBIN energy framework. Abiral Khatri, a climate finance researcher, helped facilitate the interview and part of this interview was published by Md Masum Billah in The Business Standard.
