Nepal Exports Electricity Worth Rs 592.5 Crore To India Despite Hydropower Damage

Nepal exported electricity worth Rs 592.5 crore to India between mid-September and mid-October, recovering from extensive damage to hydropower projects and transmission infrastructure caused by devastating flash floods in August.

Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Managing Director Dirghayu Kumar Shrestha said on Sunday that the country exported 633.986 million units of electricity during the period, generating revenue of 5.925 billion Nepalese rupees, equivalent to approximately USD 39 million.

The exports continued despite damage to several hydropower projects and transmission facilities caused by the August floods. Triggered by an ice-rock avalanche in the high Himalayas near the Nepal-Tibet border on August 26, the flash floods devastated towns and villages across northern and central Nepal.

The disaster reportedly killed around 1,400 people, while more than 5,000 remained missing. Homes, vehicles, roads, bridges and hydropower projects were also damaged, disrupting infrastructure and electricity generation.

According to Shrestha, around two-thirds of Nepal’s electricity exports to India during the period were supplied under bilateral power sales agreements, highlighting the importance of the energy trade between the neighbouring countries.

Meanwhile, Nepal has also resumed electricity exports to Bangladesh through India's transmission network. On Friday, the country restarted the supply of 40 megawatts of electricity to Bangladesh after a temporary disruption caused by the floods.

The Trishuli and Chilime hydropower plants, which had been approved to supply electricity to Bangladesh, were among the facilities damaged in the disaster. Shrestha said the exports resumed after India's Central Electricity Authority approved electricity generated by other hydropower projects for supply to Bangladesh.

The resumption of electricity exports to both India and Bangladesh marks an important step in restoring Nepal's cross-border power trade following the extensive damage caused by the August floods.