Embracing change, SJVN – the Mini Ratna public sector company, after having established its credentials as a profit making power generating company, is poised to transform into a power generation and transmission enterprise by stepping up to partake in laying out a cross border transmission line between India and Nepal.
Signing of the energy grid agreement in the presence of heads of states between SAARC countries at the Kathmandu summit in November 2014 has reinforced the role that SJVN is to play as the Government of India has already tasked the company with taking a lead role in collaborating with Nepal and Bhutan on the power front.
Along with other companies, SJVN is partnering in laying out the Cross Border Indo-Nepal Transmission Line that will establish an international grid connecting up Muzaffarpur in Bihar with the TLP Nepal Connection Point for movement of energy between the two nations.
To execute the project, the Cross Border Power Transmission Company Ltd (CPTC) has been formed and SJVN has a 26 percent shareholding in this new company. Other shareholders in CPTC are IL&FS Energy Development Company (IEDC), Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCIL) and Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA).
Of the 128 Km long transmission line to be aid, SJVN as a founder company of CPTC would be involved in executing the 89 Kms segment of the line that falls on the Indian side. On the Nepalese side the project is to be implemented by Power Transmission Company Nepal Ltd. that has been tasked to lay the 39 Km twin moose 400kv D/C line between Dhalkebar and TLP Nepal Connection Point. The Implementation & Transmission Service Agreement (ITSA) for this project was signed on 13 December 2011 between CPTC and NEA.
This power line would be critical infrastructure for evacuating power from the upcoming 900 MW Arun III hydropower project in Nepal that SJVN is to execute. The project development agreement for executing the prestigious project was signed by RP Singh, Chairman-cum-Managing Director SJVN and Rajesh Pant, Chief Executive Investment Board of Nepal in the presence of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Nepal Prime Minister Sushil Kumar Koirala on 27 November, 2014. Arun III is a planned as run of the river project on the Arun River, a tributary of River Sapt Koshi.
Cross Border Indo-Nepal Transmission Line will open up the possibilities to put into effect the SAARC market of electricity agreement. This grid aims to transfer electricity amongst the two SAARC member nations and for establishing stronger economic and friendly ties among neighboring countries.
SJVN Limited, runs and operates India’s largest hydroelectric plant. The public sector company under the Ministry of Power, Govt. of India, is a joint venture between the Govt. of India & Govt. of Himachal Pradesh.
