Eastern promises

This article examines Asia's power markets and comments on China's over capacity; and the overhaul of its power sector with the upgrading of old plant; India's under-capacity and political aspects which hamper the correction of the problem, deregulation of Japan's power sector, and the opening of the market by the Electric Utility Industry Council's Basic Policy Committee to independent power producers. The blocking of hydro projects that would benefit India, Bangladesh, and Nepal, and the impact of the recession on Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines are considered. (UK)