The thirteenth meeting of the Joint Steering Committee on Power Sector Cooperation between India and Nepal was held today in Pokhara to comprehensively review bilateral energy cooperation. The high-level meeting was co-chaired by India's Power Secretary Pankaj Agarwal and Nepal's Energy Secretary Sarita Dawadi. This steering committee session was preceded by the thirteenth meeting of the Joint Working Group on Power Sector Cooperation on Tuesday, which was co-chaired by Joint Secretaries Pankaj Kumar of India and Sandip Kumar Dev of Nepal.
During the meetings, both delegations thoroughly assessed ongoing developments in hydropower projects, bilateral power trade, and transmission infrastructure. The representatives expressed appreciation for the progress achieved in constructing new transmission lines, specifically highlighting the crucial four hundred kilovolt Gorakhpur-New Butwal transmission line. Both nations discussed concrete measures to facilitate and accelerate the physical implementation of current and planned power generation and transmission projects.
Furthermore, the delegations deliberated on the coordinated operation of the Indian and Nepali electricity grids to ensure stability and efficiency. Discussions also covered the development of solar energy projects, strategic cooperation in green hydrogen, and specialized capacity building initiatives for Nepali energy experts. Ahead of the joint steering committee meeting, Indian Power Secretary Pankaj Agarwal also held a bilateral meeting with Nepal's Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Biraj Bhakta Shrestha, on Tuesday.
These bilateral discussions are expected to significantly strengthen the framework of energy sector cooperation and enhance cross-border electricity infrastructure between India and Nepal.
