Kathmandu, March 28 -- A high-level meeting between the energy secretaries of Nepal and India last month agreed to build six high-voltage cross-border transmission lines to facilitate the export of up to 18,000MW of electricity by 2035.

The government's recently-approved Energy Development Roadmap and Action Plan envisages exporting 15,000MW to India and Bangladesh within the decade, and generating 28,500MW by 2035. At present Nepal has agreements to export 941MW to India and 40MW to Bangladesh.

Exports to India happen only during the monsoon when there is surplus energy, and Nepal imports power during the dry season. This month, Nepal is generating only one-third of its installed capacity of 3,400MW because of low river flows.

Genera...