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Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Biraj Bhakta Shrestha has said that the decisions taken at the 13th meeting of the Nepal-India Joint Steering Committee (JSC) at the energy secretary level, held in Pokhara, mark another significant milestone toward achieving Nepal’s long-term goal of exporting 10,000 MW of electricity to India.

Responding to the outcomes of the meeting, Minister Shrestha said that the agreements on expanding cross-border electricity trade capacity, developing cross-border transmission infrastructure, and strengthening long-term energy cooperation have created a favourable environment for increasing Nepal’s clean electricity exports to the Indian market.

He expressed confidence that the decisions would help reduce Nepal’s trade deficit, boost foreign exchange earnings, and strengthen the national economy.

The secretary-level meeting in Pokhara decided to expand electricity trade capacity through the Dhalkebar–Muzaffarpur and Dhalkebar–Sitamadhi cross-border transmission lines, increasing Nepal’s electricity export capacity to India to 1,650 MW. The two sides also agreed to accelerate the construction of new cross-border transmission lines, expand transmission infrastructure, and develop the necessary framework for long-term electricity trade.

Prior to the meeting, Minister Shrestha held courtesy meetings with India’s Power Secretary Pankaj Agarwal and Additional Foreign Secretary Munu Mahawar. During the discussions, he stressed the need to make Nepal-India energy cooperation more result-oriented and highlighted the importance of expanding the Indian electricity market to facilitate higher power exports from Nepal.

He also underscored the need to encourage greater Indian investment in Nepal’s hydropower sector and emphasised that both countries should move forward simultaneously in hydropower development, transmission infrastructure expansion, and electricity market integration.

Minister Shrestha said Nepal’s water resources are not only a source of energy production but also a valuable national asset directly linked to environmental protection, climate change mitigation, and sustainable development. He added that Nepal and India should further strengthen cooperation to expand the regional use of clean energy.

The 13th JSC meeting also made key decisions to expand electricity trade capacity through the Dhalkebar–Muzaffarpur and Dhalkebar–Sitamadhi transmission lines while advancing the construction of the Chameliya–Dhauliganga, Inaruwa–New Purnea, Dododhara–Bareilly, Motihari–Nijgadh, and other cross-border transmission infrastructure projects. According to the Ministry of Energy, these decisions are expected to strengthen the transmission network needed to expand Nepal’s electricity exports to India in the coming years.

Jalasarokar