'Agreement signed with India to export 17,000 megawatt power'

KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 18: Minister for Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation, Dipak Khadka, announced that an agreement has been signed with the Indian government to export 17,000 megawatts of electricity through cross-border transmission lines.

Speaking at the launch of the seventh edition of Urja Khabar magazine, published by Energy Information Centre Pvt Ltd yesterday, Minister Khadka revealed that the agreement was finalized during the Nepal-India secretary-level meeting. This agreement aims to support the goals outlined in the Energy Development Roadmap, 2081.

“We have signed an agreement to export 17,000 megawatts of electricity to India and Bangladesh through eight cross-border transmission lines. This is a significant step for the development of Nepal's energy sector,” he stated.

Minister Khadka also highlighted the government's initiative to provide 200,000 to 500,000 shares at low interest rates to underprivileged communities. He encouraged the private sector to invest in hydropower, assuring them that a market for the generated power has been secured.

Former Minister and Secretary Shankar Prasad Koirala commended Urja Khabar magazine for guiding the government in the development of the energy sector.

Suresh Acharya, Secretary at the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation, emphasized the importance of private sector collaboration in achieving the energy development goals set in the Energy Development Roadmap, 2081.

Prabal Adhikari, Senior Energy Expert at the Ministry, noted that the magazine is research-oriented and documents significant activities in the energy sector. Ganesh Karki, Chairperson of the Independent Power Producers' Association Nepal, stressed the need for effective coordination between the private sector and the government to achieve national energy objectives.