The Nepal Weekly 
October 3, 2023
Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Shakti Bahadur Basnet has said the government is ready to extend full support in the construction of transmission lines with the grant assistance of the US Project, Millennium Corporation Compact (MCC).
Minister Basnet said the government would responsibly carry out activities to complete the project within the stipulated deadline as the 315-km (Naglebhare-Ratmate-Hetauda-Damauli-New Butwal) transmission line is the backbone of Nepal’s transmission system.
During a meeting with a delegation led by Chief Executive Officer of MCC Alice Albright at the Energy Ministry on Monday, Minister Basnet said that the project would be completely implemented as a significant contributor to the energy sector of Nepal.
Chief Executive Officer of MCC Alice Albright arrived in Kathmandu on Sunday on a five-day visit to celebrate the successful launch of the MCC-Nepal Compact. Stating that a process including land acquisition required for the construction of transmission line and sub-station has already been initiated, Minister Basnet made it clear the government has given due importance to the project tagging it a national pride.
He however said the government would not leave any stone unturned for the smooth implementation of the project, adding the transmission lines are very important for the country to export power. He also expressed the government’s determination to complete the project on time.
The Energy Minister said that remarkable improvements would be made in economic, social and gender sectors as anticipated following the implementation of the project.
Similarly, CEO Albright said they have taken MCC as the project taking bilateral relations between Nepal and US to a new height. She also expressed pleasure over smoothly entering into the transmission and road improvement projects in the implementation phase through MCA Nepal.
CEO Albright expressed confidence that there would be crucial support from the Nepal government for the smooth implementation of the project.
Secretary at the Energy Ministry, Dinesh Kumar Ghimire, MCA Nepal Chief Executive Officer Khadga Bahadur Bista, among others, were also present on the occasion.
The government and Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) under the US government signed the Millennium Challenge Compact on 14 September 2017 and the implementation phase commenced on 29 August 2022.
There is a provision that the transmission lines and road construction projects under the MCC Nepal Compact should be completed within five years after the commencement of construction works.
