South Asia is not only the second fastest growing region in the world, it is also one of the poorest, which puts energy at the very heart of the development process in the region. According to the United Nations (UN) World’s Economic and Social Situation and Prospects 2013, the region registered a growth rate of 8.3 per cent and 5.8 per cent in the years 2010 and 2011 respectively, with projections of 4.4 per cent in 2012. Despite this, significant progress remains to be made. With a population of over 1.6 billion, the region is home to half of the world’s poor.