India and Saudi Arabia are advancing a plan to build a 2,100-kilometre undersea power cable linking the two countries, at an estimated cost of $9 billion. A Joint Working Group met on October 5 to review the feasibility study for the project, which would carry 3 gigawatts of clean electricity through high-voltage direct current (HVDC) lines.

The project cost has risen from an earlier estimate of about $5 billion, reflecting the scale of the engineering challenge. The link would allow India to export solar power during the day and import from the Gulf when needed, and vice versa. It is part of India’s One Sun One World One Grid vision to connect renewable energy across borders.

Officials say the interconnection would strengthen energy security for both nations and cut reliance on fossil fuels. If built, it would be one of the longest undersea power links in the world. Both sides are expected to agree on next steps, including financing and construction timelines, in the coming months.