The Millennium Challenge Account Nepal (MCA-Nepal), under the MCC Nepal Compact, has completed construction of the 18 km section of the cross-border transmission line, connecting the 400 kV New Butwal Substation to the Nepal–India border.

The completion marks an important milestone in Nepal’s efforts to strengthen its electricity network and expand cross-border power connectivity, MCA-Nepal said in a statement.

MCA-Nepal said it accelerated construction of the 18-kilometre section in response to a request from the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation and has completed the work within the agreed timeframe.

Speaking at an event held on Sunday at the New Butwal Substation, located in Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta West) district, to mark the completion, the Secretary at the Ministry of Finance and MCA-Nepal Board Chair Ghanashyam Upadhyaya highlighted the importance of the milestone and expressed appreciation for the partnership between Nepal, the United States, and MCC.

“On behalf of the government, I would like to express our sincere appreciation to the US government for its longstanding commitment to Nepal’s development and its continued support through the MCC Nepal Compact. The completion of this transmission line is an important milestone in strengthening Nepal’s electricity infrastructure and advancing cross-border energy connectivity. We are proud of this achievement and look forward to realising the benefits of this partnership for Nepal’s development,” he said.

Also speaking at the programme, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Sunil Poudel said the completion demonstrates the progress Nepal is making in strengthening its electricity infrastructure and expanding cross-border connectivity.

“Nepal is steadily strengthening its electricity generation and transmission capacity, and cross-border connectivity is an important part of this effort. The completion of the Nepal-side section of this transmission line demonstrates what can be achieved through strong coordination among the government, implementing agencies, development partners and local communities. We appreciate MCA-Nepal’s efforts to complete this work as planned and look forward to the next steps toward bringing the infrastructure into operation,” he said.

MCA-Nepal Executive Director Khadga Bahadur Bisht said the achievement reflects MCA-Nepal’s commitment to delivering on the priorities of the government of Nepal. “We are proud to have completed construction of this important 18km section of the cross-border transmission line. The government of Nepal asked us to accelerate this work, and MCA-Nepal responded by bringing together the resources, contractors, and partners needed to complete the construction within an expedited timeframe. We now look forward to the remaining steps toward energising the line and, ultimately, strengthening electricity connectivity and energy cooperation between Nepal and India and the broader region,” he said.

MCC Resident Country Director Diane Francisco thanked those who contributed to the successful completion of the Nepal-side section of the transmission line. “As we mark this completion, I would like to extend our sincere appreciation to the government of Nepal, the Nepal Electricity Authority, MCA-Nepal Board and MCA team, our contractors and consultants, local governments, and, most importantly, the local communities who supported and engaged with the project throughout its implementation. This achievement is a testament to what can be accomplished when we work together toward a shared goal,” she said.

The completion of the 18-kilometre Nepal-side section marks the completion of MCA-Nepal’s construction work for this part of the cross-border transmission line. The line will undergo the remaining steps required before it can be energised and put into operation, including work and approvals needed to enable electricity to flow across the Nepal–India border.

The 18km section is a part of MCA-Nepal’s Electricity Transmission Project, which includes the construction of 315 km of high-voltage transmission lines and three substations while also providing technical support to the Electricity Regulatory Authority and the NEA. The project is designed to improve the availability and reliability of electricity in Nepal and strengthen the transmission network needed to support energy security, future electricity generation and cross-border power trade.