Kathmandu, Jan 7: The 11th meeting of the Nepal-India Energy Secretary-Level Joint Steering Committee has concluded here in Meghauli, Chitwan.
Co-chaired Organised by Energy Secretary of Nepal Gopal Prasad Sigdel and India’s Energy Secretary Pankaj Agarwal, the meeting followed the signing of the Agreement on Long Term Power Trade between India and Nepal on 4 January 2024.
Prior to this, the 11th meeting of the Joint Working Group on Power Sector Cooperation (JWG) was held on 3 January 2024 that was co-chaired by Nabin Raj Singh, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation of Nepal, and Dr D. Sai Baba, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Power of India.
These meetings comprehensively reviewed the bilateral power sector cooperation between Nepal and India, including power trade and the implementation of hydropower projects and transmission lines. The progress made in various bilateral committees, including Joint Technical Team (JTT), was also discussed.
The modalities of cross border power trade through 132 kV and below transmission lines were approved during the meeting. This is considered the special significance as three new 132 kV lines like second circuit of Raxaul-Parwanipur, second circuit of Kataiya-Kusaha and New Nautanwa-Mainhiya were inaugurated jointly by the External Affairs Minister of India and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nepal on January 4, 2024.
These lines add about 200 MW transmission capacity enhancing the overall transmission capacity between Nepal and India to 1400 MW. Further, the New Nautanwa-Mainhiya transmission line is the first connection between Nepal and the state of Uttar Pradesh in India.
Achieving progress on the Nepal-India Joint Vision Statement on Power Sector Cooperation issued during the visit of Prime Minister of Nepal Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ to India in April 2022, both sides agreed to hold the first meeting of the Joint Hydro Development Committee (JHDC) soon.
Power Secretary Pankaj Agarwal also called on Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation of Nepal, Shakti Bahadur Basnet before the JSC.
The two sides agreed to continue the discussions on the subject and decided to meet soon for the next sessions of the JWG/JSC meetings to be organised by the Indian side.
