Nepal and India plan to build five new power lines. This will help Nepal send 16,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity to India and Bangladesh by 2035. Energy officials from both countries meet today in New Delhi to finalize the plans.
Steps to Build New Power Lines
Suresh Acharya, Nepal’s Energy Secretary, leads a 12-member team in India. The goal is to confirm plans and make sure projects start on time. These plans were first discussed in January at a meeting on power trade.
Sandip Dev, Joint Secretary at the Energy Ministry, said the meeting will confirm past decisions and set clear deadlines. Nepal has lots of hydropower. Expanding power trade is key for growth.
New Power Projects in Progress
Nepal and India agreed to build five power lines. Two of them, Inaruwa (Duhabi)-Purnia (Bihar) and Dodhara (Lamki)-Bareli (Uttar Pradesh), should be ready by 2030. Both will carry 400kV.
Three more power lines will follow:
- Nijgadh (Bara)-Motihari (Bihar) 400kV
- Kohalpur-Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) 400kV
- Chameliya-Jaulajiwi 220kV double circuit, ready by 2027
A report for the Chameliya-Jaulajiwi line will be finished by March. These lines will help Nepal send power to India and Bangladesh.
Better Power Trade Agreements
Nepal and India will upgrade the 400kV Dhalkebar-Muzaffarpur power line. This is the main power link between the two countries. The upgrade will allow up to 1,100MW to be traded.
India plans to buy 10,000MW from Nepal over the next 10 years. To make this possible, new power lines are in progress:
- Dhalkebar-Sitamarhi 400kV, built by the Arun-3 Power Company, with 2,000MW capacity.
- New Butwal-Gorakhpur Line, launched in June 2023, carrying 3,500MW.
These projects will help Nepal sell more power and grow its economy.
Future Benefits
Nepal is adding 11,000MW to its power supply soon. Developers have also proposed deals for 20,000MW more. More power lines will be needed.
Officials from Nepal’s Foreign Ministry, Energy Ministry, Electricity Authority, and other offices are in New Delhi. After this meeting, both sides will discuss power trade rates.
Nepal wants to keep its import rates steady. These projects will help Nepal become a major power exporter in South Asia.
For more updates, visit Nepal Monitor.
