India is moving ahead with plans to build undersea electricity transmission lines to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in projects estimated at ₹900,000 million ($10.5 billion), according to a report by The Economic Times citing Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.
The projects are part of India’s broader effort to become a regional power exporter and expand its energy connectivity with the Gulf. Separate joint venture agreements have been signed with both Saudi Arabia and the UAE, Khattar said, without disclosing the timeline for execution.
The Saudi line is projected to cost ₹470,000 million ($5.5 billion) and span around 1,400 kilometres. The UAE line, at an estimated ₹430,000 million ($5 billion), will run for 1,600 km. Both will have a transmission capacity of 2 gigawatts.
The move comes as India targets greater integration with West Asia’s energy markets. According to the International Energy Agency, cross-border electricity trade in Asia is expected to increase over the next decade as countries seek to enhance grid stability, diversify their energy sources, and integrate renewable energy sources.
India currently exports electricity to neighbouring countries such as Nepal, Bangladesh, and Bhutan through land-based transmission lines. The proposed subsea cables would mark India’s first undersea energy link to the Middle East and represent a significant step in building a regional electricity market.
Khattar did not confirm financing or execution partners, but analysts say the scale and cross-border nature of the project could involve multilateral funding or public-private partnerships.
