KATHMANDU, Oct 25: Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) exported electricity worth Rs 5.925 billion to India from mid-September to mid-October this year, despite flood damage to several hydropower plants disrupting production.
Export revenue during the review period increased compared with both the same period last year and mid-August to mid-September this year.
NEA Managing Director Dirghayu Kumar Shrestha said revenue from electricity exports rose despite the suspension of production at some hydropower plants approved for export due to flood damage.
According to Shrestha, nearly two-thirds of the electricity exported to India during the review month was sold under bilateral agreements, while the remainder was traded through the Indian Energy Exchange (IEX).
Data from the NEA’s Load Dispatch Centre show that Nepal exported 633.986 million units of electricity to India from mid-September to mid-October, generating Rs 5.925 billion in revenue.
Nepal exports electricity worth Rs 8.32 billion to India
Electricity was sold to the Indian states of Haryana and Bihar under bilateral power sale agreements. The remaining electricity was sold at competitive rates through the day-ahead and real-time markets of the IEX.
The NEA exports surplus electricity generated during the monsoon season to India and Bangladesh after meeting domestic demand. Under medium-term bilateral power sale agreements, Nepal sells electricity to Haryana and Bihar from June through October.
Nepal earned Rs 4.963 billion from electricity exports to India from mid-September to mid-October last year. From mid-August to mid-September this year, export revenue stood at Rs 5.0925 billion.
Revenue from exports during the review month this year increased by Rs 962 million compared with the same period last year and by Rs 832.5 million compared with the previous month. From mid-July to mid-October, Nepal recorded total electricity export revenue of Rs 16.1513 billion.
Nepal resumes 40 MW electricity exports to Bangladesh
Nepal has resumed exporting 40 megawatts of electricity to Bangladesh through India’s transmission network. Exports restarted on October 23.
The export arrangement had been suspended after a flood triggered by an ice-rock avalanche in the Bhotekoshi River in Rasuwa on August 26 damaged the Trishuli and Chilime hydropower plants, which had been approved to supply electricity to Bangladesh. The damage also partially affected electricity exports to Haryana under bilateral agreements.
Shrestha said exports resumed after India’s Central Electricity Authority approved electricity generated by other hydropower plants for supply to Bangladesh.
Under the revised arrangement, electricity generated by the Solu, Kabeli-1 and Lower Modi hydropower plants has been approved for export to Bangladesh and Haryana in place of electricity from the Trishuli, Devighat and Chilime plants.
The NEA and the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) signed a five-year agreement on seasonal electricity exports on October 3, 2024. Under the agreement, Nepal exports 40 MW of electricity to Bangladesh daily from June 15 to November 15 each year.
Meanwhile, India’s Central Electricity Authority has approved an additional 31 MW of electricity for export. With the latest approval, the total capacity approved for export to India has reached approximately 1,179 MW.
