Since 1951, the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) has collected and disseminated data pertaining to the electricity sectors of the region. Over the years, the data have been published under different names such as Electric Power Bulletin (1951-1960), Electric Power in Asia and the Far East (1961-1970), and since 1971 biennially as Electric Power in Asia and the Pacific.

More recently, ESCAP began focusing the publication to better reflect the linkages between electricity and sustainable development. In particular, the information on the environmental and social impacts was strengthened. An expert group meeting was held in 2007 to obtain advice from power sector specialists on the use of indicators for sustainable development in the power sector. The outcome of this meeting and other inputs from governments and interested organization has been incorporated into this publication which is now called Electricity and Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific.

The objective of Electricity and Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific is to assist planners and decision makers of countries and areas in the region by making available comparative information on economic, social and environmental aspects of the region’s electric power sectors, including information on stakeholders in the countries in support of network and partnership building.

The information included in this publication pertains to particularly the years 2003 to 2005, though earlier years have also been included for some statistical or indicator series. The first part of the publication contains an analysis and overview of electric power development at the regional level.  Selected statistical tables such as fuel consumption, system losses, renewable energy capacity, export/ import of electricity, and stand-alone units are also provided for some countries.

The second part of the publication contains country or area profiles with information on energy sector development, major achievements, challenges, stakeholders in the electricity sector and issues related to the impact of electricity on social development and the environment. 

Many of the statistics were derived from the United Nations energy database.  Information was also collected through survey questionnaire filled in by utilities, institutes and other government agencies of the region. Information was also obtained from websites and publications for electricity organizations or Energy Ministries for some countries. 

The objective of Electric Power in Asia and the Pacific is to assist planners and decision makers in countries and areas of the region by making available comparative information on economic, social and environmental aspects of the region’s electric power sectors, including information on stakeholders in the countries in support of network- and partnership-building.

The ESCAP secretariat would like to extend its deepest gratitude for the cooperation and assistance of the organizations and authorities, which have contributed to issuance of this publication.