Kathmandu, 16 Sep: Although electricity generation in Nepal has declined due to the Bhotekoshi flood, exports to India have continued uninterrupted. According to the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), seven hydropower and solar projects were damaged by the flood, disrupting around 250 megawatts (MW) of electricity generation. However, electricity exports to India have remained regular.
NEA spokesperson Rajan Dhakal said that although the August 26 flood damaged power projects and transmission lines, Nepal has recently been exporting up to around 900 MW of electricity a day.
“Since it is the monsoon season and the hydropower projects listed for export to India have not suffered significant damage, we are exporting up to 1,000 MW a day,” he said. “Only projects totaling 54 MW that were listed for export to India have been damaged. The others are operating normally. However, we have not been able to export electricity to Bangladesh.”
According to Dhakal, Nepal normally exports around 900 MW to India during regular periods and around 700 MW during peak hours. On Monday alone, exports reached 786 MW during peak hours and 1,015 MW during off-peak hours.
Dhakal said that recent investments in interconnected transmission networks and strategies adopted in the past to strengthen energy security have enabled the NEA to maintain adequate domestic electricity supplies and export the surplus even during the current difficult period.
55 MW Export Capacity Affected
The Devighat and Chilime hydropower projects, which are among those listed for electricity exports to India, were damaged by the flood, reducing export capacity by around 55 MW.
Similarly, projects designated for electricity exports to Bangladesh were also damaged by the flood, preventing exports to the country. However, the NEA has already written to the authorities seeking approval to export electricity generated by the 24 MW Kabeli B-1 and 16 MW Solukhola hydropower projects to Bangladesh.
If approval is granted, the NEA plans to resume electricity exports to Bangladesh. Under an agreement, Nepal exports 40 MW of electricity to Bangladesh annually from June 15 to November 15.
Permission Granted for Electricity Imports
Meanwhile, India’s Ministry of Power has approved the provision of up to 654 MW of electricity per day to Nepal. According to a statement issued by India’s Ministry of Power, Nepal can receive this amount from midnight to 6 p.m. from September 13 through December 31.
Under the approval, Nepal can import up to 600 MW through the 400 kV Dhalkebar–Muzaffarpur transmission line and up to 54 MW through the 132 kV Tanakpur–Mahendranagar transmission line.
However, Nepal currently has sufficient domestic electricity and does not need to import power.
“We do not need to import electricity at present. If the need arises, this approval will make it easier for us to import electricity in the future,” Dhakal said.
The NEA had requested the Indian government for such approval as part of the regular process even before the flood occurred. According to the Indian ministry’s statement, the arrangement will be reviewed in December for the year 2027.
Electricity Exports Reach Nearly Rs. 3 Billion
Nepal exported electricity worth a total of Rs. 2.932 billion to India and Bangladesh during the last fiscal year 2082/83 (2025/26).
The NEA has made significant progress in its net electricity trade balance as it has been able to export surplus electricity throughout all 12 months of the fiscal year while also substantially reducing the need for imports after meeting domestic demand.
However, damage to hydropower projects caused by the flood could reduce electricity exports during the upcoming dry season and may increase the need for imports. Nevertheless, spokesperson Dhakal said the overall impact is not expected to be very significant.
During fiscal year 2082/83, Nepal’s electricity exports increased by 62.89 percent to 3.877 billion units. Electricity is exported to India at competitive rates through the Indian Energy Exchange’s Day-Ahead Market and Real-Time Market.
Nepal also trades electricity with India’s NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam under a medium-term power trade agreement.
