Transmission lines are the new pathways of political power for India in the neighbourhood, and the most effective counter, so far, to China's BRI thrust. Bhutan is emerging as a poster child on this score, forcing Nepal to rethink after 300-400 MW were washed off its grid by the collapse of the China-funded Upper Trishuli power project in the catastrophic Himalayan floods in August.
The economics favour India. It's the only country that can import power in large quantities in the subcontinent. China constructs, but doesn't buy. In the case of Nepal, which has taken BRI funding, India has let it be known over the past few years that it will not import power from China-funded generation facilities. So, Beijing may have set up many projects in Nepal but it can't make them profitable for Kathmandu. This could render these projects unviable in the long run, besides adding to Kathmandu's financial woes, like the $149.4 mn sovereign loan for the Upper Trishuli project.
