CDRI and MEA organized a workshop on ‘Strengthening Capacity of Power Sector Practitioners in the Indo-Pacific Region’ under the Quad Infrastructure Working Group
New Delhi : CDRI and the Ministry of External Affairs, Govt. of India organized the ‘Strengthening Capacity of Power Sector Practitioners in the Indo-Pacific Region: Technical Workshop under the Quad Infrastructure Coordination Group’ in New Delhi from June 4-7 2024. The four day workshop’s objective was to strengthen the power sector’s disaster preparedness and management policies to prevent new and reduce disaster risks across the Indo-Pacific.
Key discussions included climate risk data and guidelines, power asset vulnerability assessment, resilience planning and investment, infrastructure resilience case studies, and site visits to showcase disaster resilient power infrastructure.
Amit Prothi, Director General, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, said, “CDRI is proud to partner with the Government of India to support the Quad Infrastructure Coordination Group. This workshop will leverage regional expertise to enable better understanding of how to develop disaster resilient power infrastructure across the Indo-Pacific.”
Nagaraj Naidu Kakanur, Joint Secretary (Americas), Ministry of External Affairs, Govt. of India, shared, “There are long-term costs of physical and climate-related disaster events on the power sector. The power generation plants we build today will operate for decades, so they need to be designed and operated taking into consideration the potential impact of climate change and other physical hazards.”
Ms. Suja Menon, Joint Secretary, DPA-1, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, said, “Quad members have been collaborating with the CDRI to help countries mitigate physical and climate risks. The workshop organized by the MEA and the CDRI is another important step towards strengthening disaster preparedness in the Indo-Pacific.”
With the Indo-Pacific being significantly impacted by disasters, there is a high risk of damage to “last mile” power transmission and distribution infrastructure disrupting lives and livelihoods. The workshop aimed to influence long-term planning to build resilience in the power sector.