Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Kulman Ghising held a meeting with India’s Minister of Power Manohar Lal Khattar in New Delhi on Wednesday.
According to Ghising’s secretariat, the meeting took place on the sidelines of the 8th General Assembly of the International Solar Alliance.
During the discussions held at India’s Ministry of Power, the two sides reviewed a wide range of issues, including Nepal–India energy cooperation, electricity trade, cross-border transmission line expansion, progress on hydropower projects being developed with Indian investment, and long-term energy partnerships between the two countries.
Meanwhile, Nepal and India signed a joint venture (JV) and shareholder agreement to construct two new cross-border transmission lines — the Inaruwa–Purnia and Lamki–Dodhara–Bareilly 400 kV lines, according to the energy ministry.
In the presence of the two ministers, the agreement was signed by Subhash Kumar Mishra, Deputy Executive Director of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), and Sanjay Kumar Gupta, CEO of Power Grid Corporation of India Limited. The signing paves the way for the establishment of joint venture companies to build the two transmission lines with investment from NEA and Power Grid.
Minister Ghising described the advancement of the two new cross-border transmission lines as a significant milestone for bilateral and regional electricity trade. He expressed confidence that the construction of these lines would strengthen Nepal’s capacity to export surplus electricity to India and beyond, enhancing the country’s access to international energy markets.
Similarly, Minister Khattar said that once the new cross-border transmission lines are completed, they will streamline electricity exchange between Nepal and India, enhance regional energy security through a stronger grid network, and contribute to economic growth in both countries.
