Kathmandu: 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 1.67 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 facilitated electricity sales to the Indian states of Haryana and Bihar through the Day Ahead and Real-Time Market of the Indian Energy Exchange (IEX) under a bilateral mid-term electricity sale agreement.

Regional Power Trade Expands
In addition to exporting power to India, Nepal has begun supplying electricity to Bangladesh using Indian infrastructure, marking a milestone in regional power trade cooperation.

Challenges in Power Export
NEA Managing Director Kulman Ghising noted that exports were disrupted due to the damage caused by floods and landslides during heavy rains on September 27-28. The disasters affected several hydropower projects and transmission lines, including the 456 MW Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project, which remains out of operation due to landslide damage.

Further complications arose from the flooding of the Mai River, which damaged the Kabeli Corridor Transmission Line. This disruption has suspended the transmission of approximately 200 MW of electricity from projects connected to the corridor.

Impact on Annual Export Targets
These challenges are likely to affect the government’s target of exporting electricity worth Rs 30 billion in the current fiscal year. Despite setbacks, the first quarter performance underscores Nepal's growing potential as a regional electricity supplier, bolstered by its surplus hydropower generation during the rainy season.

The NEA remains focused on restoring damaged infrastructure and ensuring consistent electricity exports to meet its targets and further strengthen Nepal’s role in South Asia’s energy market.