Nepal exported electricity valued at Rs 12.72 billion to India during the first quarter of the current fiscal year, according to the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA). A total of 1.667 billion units of surplus electricity, generated during the rainy season, were sold to India at an average rate of Rs 7.63 per unit.
The NEA supplies electricity to the Indian states of Haryana and Bihar through the Day Ahead and Real-Time Market of the Indian Energy Exchange (IEX), leveraging a competitive bidding system. Additionally, Nepal has begun exporting power to Bangladesh using India’s transmission infrastructure under a trilateral arrangement.
Did you know? The Pharping hydropower project was the first power station in Nepal and the second in Asia. Pharping hydropower was established in 22 May 1911 – Read More about Pharping Hydropowder Project
NEA Managing Director Kulman Ghising noted that electricity exports were disrupted following the heavy rains and landslides on September 27-28, which damaged hydropower plants and transmission lines. The 456-megawatt Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Plant remains out of operation due to landslide damage.
Other smaller projects were similarly impacted, including those linked to the Kabeli Corridor Transmission Line, which was damaged by flooding from the Mai River. This suspension of around 200 megawatts of electricity from affected projects has significantly reduced exports over the past two months.
The disruptions pose challenges to the government’s target of exporting electricity worth Rs 30 billion in the current fiscal year. Despite these setbacks, the NEA remains committed to restoring infrastructure and optimizing exports as conditions improve.
