Kathmandu, 25 October (H.S.): Nepal has earned Rs 5.925 billion from electricity exports to India during the September–October period of the current fiscal year 2026–27, despite disruptions to hydropower generation caused by floods. Meanwhile, the export of 40 megawatts (MW) of electricity to Bangladesh through India’s transmission network has resumed, marking a significant step towards restoring regional power trade.

According to data from the Load Dispatch Centre under the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), Nepal exported a total of 633.986 million units of electricity to India over the past month, generating revenue of Rs 5.925 billion. Although floods forced several hydropower projects to suspend generation, electricity export earnings between September 15 and October 15 exceeded the figures recorded during the corresponding period last year and in the preceding month of the current fiscal year.

During September and October, Nepal supplied electricity to India through two channels. Under bilateral power purchase agreements, electricity was sold to the Indian states of Haryana and Bihar. The remaining surplus was traded at competitive rates through the Day-Ahead Market and Real-Time Market of the Indian Energy Exchange (IEX).

Nepal exports surplus electricity generated during the monsoon season to India and Bangladesh after meeting domestic demand. Under medium-term bilateral power purchase agreements, supplies to Haryana and Bihar generally run from June through October.

Between September 15 and October 15, 2025, Nepal earned Rs 4.963 billion from electricity exports to India. During July–August of the current fiscal year, export earnings stood at Rs 5.0925 billion.

Consequently, electricity export revenue increased by Rs 962 million compared with the corresponding period last year and by Rs 832.5 million compared with July–August. During the first three months of the current fiscal year, from August through October 25, Nepal generated total electricity export earnings of Rs 16.1513 billion, according to the figures cited in the report.

NEA Executive Director Dirghayu Kumar Shrestha said electricity export earnings had increased in October despite the suspension of generation at some hydropower projects authorised to supply electricity to foreign markets because of flood damage.

According to Shrestha, approximately two-thirds of the electricity exported to India during the month was sold under bilateral agreements, while the remainder was traded through the IEX.

Meanwhile, Nepal resumed supplying 40 MW of electricity to Bangladesh through India’s transmission network on the evening of Friday, October 23.

On August 26, flooding associated with the Bhote Koshi River damaged infrastructure at the Trishuli and Chilime hydropower plants, disrupting electricity exports to Bangladesh. The damage also partially affected supplies to Haryana under bilateral agreements.

Shrestha said the supply to Bangladesh had resumed after India’s Central Electricity Authority granted permission to export electricity generated by alternative hydropower projects. Under the revised arrangement, electricity from the Solu, Kabeli-1 and Lower Modi hydropower projects has been authorised for export to Bangladesh and Haryana in place of supplies from the Trishuli, Devighat and Chilime projects.

He described the continuation of exports from alternative projects, despite damage to hydropower generation and transmission infrastructure, as an important development for Nepal’s electricity trade. The resumption is expected to help Nepal manage its monsoon-season electricity surplus more effectively and expand cross-border power trading.

The Nepal Electricity Authority and the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) signed a five-year agreement on October 3, 2024, for seasonal electricity exports. Under the arrangement, Nepal supplies 40 MW of electricity to Bangladesh daily during the June 15–November 15 period each year. The electricity is transmitted through India’s power grid under a trilateral arrangement.

In a further development, India’s Central Electricity Authority has approved an additional 31 MW of electricity exports from Nepal. With this authorisation, Nepal’s total approved electricity export capacity to India has reached approximately 1,179 MW.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar