India and Saudi Arabia have held fresh discussions on a proposed power transmission link between the two countries, with both sides reviewing progress on the initiative and identifying areas for wider cooperation in the electricity sector, officials said on Monday.
No specific deadline for completing the proposed interconnection or details of its final cost and technical design were announced in the meeting. “Pankaj Agarwal, secretary in the Union ministry of power, held a virtual meeting with Nasser Al-Qahtani, Saudi Arabia’s assistant minister of energy for electricity affairs, to discuss the status of the proposed interconnection and the steps required to take it forward. The two sides emphasised the importance of regular consultations to advance the initiative. Discussions also covered ways to meet the rising electricity requirements of data centres and modernise grid codes in response to changing demands on power systems. Both countries reiterated their commitment to continued dialogue and closer engagement in the power sector.
They also explored opportunities for technical cooperation, sharing expertise and adopting best practices to address emerging challenges in the power sector,” said an official, aware of the development. Saudi Arabia expressed interest in India’s experience in extra-high-voltage (EHV) transmission infrastructure, particularly in managing electricity grids as the share of renewable energy increases, according to officials of the ministry of power.
