Enhancing Power Sector Resilience: Emerging Practices to Manage Weather and Geological Risks

Over the past 20 years, natural disasters have become more frequent, and the costs of associated damages and losses are rising. In 2012 alone, the 357 natural disasters recorded worldwide resulted in 9,655 fatalities, 125 million victims, and US$157 billion in associated damages and losses. Far‐flung power infrastructure from upstream generation plants and transmission lines to downstream distribution networks and operational systems is particularly vulnerable to weather and geological events. Building a resilient power sector is likely to be particularly challenging in countries where the power supply system is weak or aging, which is the case in many developing countries.