ADB to Help Nepal Draw Private Investment into Transmission, Battery Storage

Kathmandu – The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has signed two advisory agreements with the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) to bring private investment into power transmission and battery storage through public-private partnerships (PPPs). The projects are expected to attract more than $200 million.

The agreements were signed by ADB Country Director Arnaud Cauchois and NEA Managing Director Dirghayu Kumar Shrestha. They are ADB’s first advisory mandates for a transmission-line PPP and a standalone utility-scale battery storage PPP in any member country.

The first covers a roughly 134-km, 400-kV line linking Tingla, New Khimti and Dhalkebar. The second covers 100–150 MWh of batteries at selected NEA substations.

ADB will support feasibility studies, project agreements, procurement, tendering and capacity building.

Cauchois said electricity access rose from 58% in 2016 to 99% in 2025, and the next challenge is reliable domestic supply and export capacity.