Nepal-India bilateral meeting to implement PTA

Nepal, India discuss development modality of New Butwal-Gorakhpur transmission line

Published On: February 14, 2017 12:00 AM NPT By: Republica  | @RepublicaNepal


JSC meeting likely to take decision today
KATHMANDU, Feb 14: The Nepal-India Joint Working Group (JWG) on Monday held discussion on different modalities to build New Butwal-Gorakhapur Cross Border Transmission Line. The meeting, however, could not take any decision. 

The JWG, which has been formed to implement Power Trade Agreement (PTA) signed by Nepal and India is co-chaired by joint secretaries of both the governments. 

Detailed Project Report of the project prepared by Joint Technical Team was tabled in the meeting. Sources say both sides remained firm on their stance on project development modality. 

The project is estimated to cost Rs 11.2 billion (IRs 7 billion).

In the 3rd JWG meeting held in New Delhi last year, India had proposed to replicate the company modality of Muzaffarpur-Dhalkebar Transmission Line to build the 400 KVA transmission line project. But Nepal had proposed to build the cross border line by both governments in their respective territories. 

The Muzaffarpur-Dhalkebar Transmission Line was built by two separate companies in both the countries. Nepal has agreed to import 150 MW from India for 25 years and pay wheeling charges to both the companies. 

An official involved in the meeting said that both sides repeated their stances on development modality. Final decision will be made by the Joint Steering Committee (JSC) meeting, co-chaired by secretaries both the country's on Tuesday, the official added.

Nepal's Energy Secretary Anup Kumar Upadhyaya and India's Power Secretary P K Pujari will jointly chair the meeting. 

The JWG meeting also decided to bring the Muzaffarpur-Dhalkebar Transmission Line into operation at the earliest. 

The cross-border transmission line has not been able to start full-fledged operation as work to build a substation at Dhalkebar is yet to be completed. NEA officials expect to start full-fledged operation of the transmission line by March.    

Likewise, the meeting also held underscored the need to bring newly built Kataiya-Kushbaha and Raxaul-Parwanipur transmission lines into operation.

“The meeting also felt the need to build more cross-border transmission lines to find market for different under construction projects. But no decision has been taken. Minutes of the meeting will be signed in tomorrow's JSC meeting,” said Dinesh Kumar Ghimire, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Energy, said.

The meeting also underlined the need to promote bilateral exchange of 'technical know-how' in the hydropower sector as well as discussed various operational and commercial issues on interconnecting electricity grids of India and Nepal.

The meeting also discussed the progress made by the Arun III and Upper Karnali hydropower projects as well as Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project. 


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