Nepal-India finalize modalities of proposed cross-border transmission lines

Published On: January 8, 2024 08:00 AM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

Both the countries discussed on prospects of exporting Nepali electricity to Bangladesh in recently held JSC meeting

KATHMANDU, Jan 8: Nepal and India have agreed on the modalities of the proposed cross-border transmission lines with capacity of 132 kV and below at various border points of two countries.

The 11th meeting of the Joint Steering Committee on Power Sector Cooperation (JSC) held in Chitwan on Friday endorsed the modalities of the proposed transmission lines. Gopal Prasad Sigdel, secretary at the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation and Pankaj Agarwal, secretary at the Ministry of Power, India signed the agreement to this effect, according to a press statement released by the Embassy of India in Nepal.

The JSC meeting was held after the signing of the Agreement on Long Term Power Trade between India and Nepal on Thursday. In the ministerial meeting of the two countries, India had agreed to purchase 10,000 MW of electricity in the next 10 years from Nepal.

The JSC meeting also discussed the possibilities of allowing Nepal to export its electricity to Bangladesh by using Indian transmission lines. While Bangladesh has shown interest to purchase 40 MW of electricity from Nepal, both the countries have been looking for India’s approval to materialize the power trade.

During the JSC meeting, Nepal and India also discussed the principle aspects of carrying out trilateral agreement among the authorities of the three countries, while abiding with the Guidelines for Import/Export (Cross Border) of Electricity enforced by the Indian government.

During the meetings, three new 132 kV lines including second circuit of Raxaul (Bihar, India)-Parwanipur (Nepal), second circuit of Kataiya (Bihar, India)-Kusaha (Nepal) and New Nautanwa (Uttar Pradesh, India)-Mainhiya (Nepal) were inaugurated by the External Affairs Minister of India S Jaishankar and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nepal NP Saud.

These lines add about 200 MW transmission capacities enhancing the overall transmission capacity between India and Nepal to 1400 MW. Further, the New Nautanwa-Mainhiya transmission line is the first connection between Nepal and the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. The progress was achieved in line with the India-Nepal Joint Vision Statement on Power Sector Cooperation issued during the visit of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to India in April 2022.

During Dahal’s visit to India, both sides agreed to hold the first meeting of the Joint Hydro Development Committee (JHDC) soon. In the recently held bilateral talks, the two sides agreed to continue discussions on the subject and decided to meet soon for the next sessions of the JWG/JSC meetings to be organized by the Indian side.