April 7: China has taken the stance that the two countries must first sign electricity trade agreement for the construction of cross-border transmission lines. The Chinese team took such a stand during the discussion held in Beijing between the representatives of the two countries on March 27 and 28.

Prior to the meeting, a team led by Dirghayu Kumar Shrestha, head of the Transmission Line Directorate of Nepal Electricity Authority, had gone to China for discussion in this regard. The State Grid of China and the NEA team held a discussion on cross-border transmission line.

However, the Chinese side argued that construction of cross-border transmission line would require electricity trade between the two countries and therefore took the stance that the two countries must first sign electricity trade agreement before starting the transmission line project.

The Nepali side had proposed construction of the Geelong-Kerung-Rasuwagadhi-Chilime 220 kV transmission line. One of the members of the Nepali delegation who attended the discussion told New Business Age that the Nepali side returned empty handed due to the stance taken by the Chinese side.