KATHMANDU, Sept 4:Nepal and India on
Thursday signed a 25-year agreement on power trading, cross-border transmission
line and grid connectivity.
The eight-point agreement signed by Energy Secretary Rajendra Kishore Kshatri and his Indian counterpart Pradeep Kumar Sinha in New Delhi has paved the way for both the countries to sell and purchase electricity through synchronized connection.
In a major departure, the agreement also envisages extending markets for electricity generated by hydropower projects in Nepal at the sub-regional and regional level.
Talking to media persons, Minister for Energy Radha Gyawali expressed happiness as India signed the agreement as proposed by Nepal through its latest draft sent to Delhi after all-party consensus.
“The agreement encourages national and international developers to invest in hydropower sector by ensuing them market for electricity,” said Gyawali, adding that there was unnecessary hue and cry over first draft received from India. Minister Gyawali also said the PTA has no controversial provision on the issue of power cooperation. She also credited the new government in India led-by Narendra Modi and change in policy toward Nepal for the achievement.
Article VI of the agreement says, “The agreement shall not affect in any way the obligations of the parties under existing bilateral agreements between the parties as well as their existing agreements with other countries.”
Minister Gyawali also said that she will soon forward the signed document to Prime Minister Sushil Koirala for endorsement by the cabinet. The agreement will come into effect after endorsement by the cabinet of both the countries.
Both the governments had agreed to sign PTA within 45 days during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Nepal in August first week.
Hydropower developers have heaved a huge sigh of relief and are hopeful of sustainable power supply through two-way power exchange.
Source:- Republica
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