Electricity generation in the ESCAP region continued to grow from 1999 to 2001. Total electricity generation reached 3, 759 TWh in 2001. Figure 1 shows the development in generation for selected countries, where data are available from 1990 to 2001. It may be noted that North and Central Asian countries, including the Russian Federation, have not been included in this publication because of lack of data. In spite of the financial crisis of 1997, most countries in the ESCAP region still experienced positive growth in electricity generation during the crisis. In the period from 1990 to 2001, the annual growth rate in electricity generation was 5.0 per cent, compared to an annual growth rate of 6.0 per cent between 1990 and 1996. The high annual growth rate in electricity generation from 1990 to 2001 was mainly due to the annual growth rate of 8.3 per cent in the Republic of Korea, 8.0 per cent in Thailand and Sri Lanka, and 7.7 per cent in China.

Figure 1. Electricity generation, 1990-2001

Note: “Total” includes generation in Australia; China; Hong Kong, China; Japan; India; Macao, China; Pakistan; Philippines; Republic of Korea; Singapore; Sri Lanka; and Thailand.

The annual growth rate in electricity generation of 4.7 per cent from 1999 to 2001 was attributed to self generating industry (5.8 per cent) and privately owned utilities (1.7 per cent) as shown in figure 2. Although electricity generation by publicly owned utilities grew 3.1 per cent between 1999 and 2000, it experienced a negative annual growth rate of 3.1 per cent between 2000 and 2001. This was due to a decrease in electricity generation by publicly owned utilities in Pakistan (11.4 per cent), Sri Lanka (7.8 per cent, Turkey (7.4 per cent) and Thailand (3.4 per cent).

Figure 2. Electricity generation by ownership, 1999-2001

Note: Including data from Azerbaijan; Bhutan; Hong Kong, China; India; Japan; Macao, China; Malaysia; Pakistan; Singapore; Sri Lanka; Thailand; Turkey and Viet Nam.

Figure 3 shows that electricity generation in the region is dominated by a few large countries, with China alone accounting for 28 per cent. Australia, China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea and the Russian Federation together accounted for about 87 per cent of the total generation in the countries considered.

Figure 3. Electricity generation by country, 2000

Note: Including data from Australia; Azerbaijan; China; Hong Kong, China; India; Indonesia; Japan; Macao, China; Malaysia; Mongolia; Nepal; Pakistan; Papua New Guinea; Philippines; Republic of Korea; Russian Federation; Singapore; Sri Lanka; Thailand; Turkey and Viet Nam.

Variations in the level of consumption per capita between developed countries mainly reflected differences in energy end-use efficiency and in the structure and type of economic sectors. Electricity consumption per capita varied substantially, with the level of consumption in developed countries, such as Australia, Japan and Singapore, more than 100 times higher than in developing countries such as India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Viet Nam (see figure 4).

Figure 4. Electricity consumption per capita, 2001

Figure 5 shows electricity demand by sector. The industrial sector accounted for 43 per cent of total electricity demand. The industrial and household sectors together accounted for more than 50 per cent of total electricity demand. There were quite large variations among countries regarding the distribution of demand by different consumer groups (see overview table 5).

Figure 5. Electricity demand per sector, 2001

Note: Including data from Australia; Azerbaijan; Hong Kong, China; India; Indonesia; Japan; Macao, China; Malaysia; Mongolia; Pakistan; Papua New Guinea; Singapore; Sri Lanka; Thailand; Turkey and Viet Nam.

In figure 6, the price of 100 kWh electricity for domestic and commercial consumers, respectively, is compared by country (see 'currency, population and GDP' table for exchange rates used for conversion of currencies into United States dollars). In general, commercial consumers paid more than domestic consumers, contrary to most other commodities where larger consumers have the benefit of lower prices per unit of consumption. This indicates direct subsidies or cross-subsidies.

Figure 6. Electricity prices, 2001

Electricity prices for domestic consumers in Azerbaijan, Bhutan and Mongolia were relatively low while electricity prices in Hong Kong, Japan, Macao and Singapore were relatively high. Commercial consumers paid most in Hong Kong, Japan, Macao and Pakistan, and least in Bhutan and Mongolia. Electricity prices for industrial consumers were not compared by country owing to a variety of price schemes that made comparisons difficult (see overview table 7).