Kathmandu [Nepal], Oct 26: Nepal earned nearly Rs. 6 billion from electricity exports to India in September-October, despite floods disrupting generation at several hydropower plants, according to the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA).
Nepal exported 633.98 million units of electricity to India during Ashoj, which ran from September 17 to October 17, generating Rs. 5.93 billion in revenue, the NEA said.
The revenue was Rs. 962 million higher than in the same period last year and Rs. 832 million higher than in the previous month, Bhadau.
Electricity was sold to India through bilateral agreements with the states of Haryana and Bihar as well as through the Indian Energy Exchange’s day-ahead and real-time markets.
About two-thirds of the electricity exported in Ashoj was sold under bilateral agreements while the remainder was traded through the Indian Energy Exchange, NEA Managing Director Dirghayu Kumar Shrestha said.
Nepal exports surplus electricity generated during the monsoon season after meeting domestic demand. Under medium-term bilateral agreements, electricity is sold to Haryana and Bihar between June and October.
In the first three months of the 2026/27 fiscal year which began on July 17, Nepal earned Rs. 16.15 billion from electricity exports to India. Exports generated Rs. 5.08 billion in Saun, from July 17 to August 16 and Rs. 5.09 billion in Bhadau, from August 17 to September 16.
Shrestha said export revenue increased in Ashoj despite the suspension of generation at some hydropower plants that had been approved for export because of flood damage.
More than 400 MW of generation capacity in the Trishuli corridor alone has been temporarily disconnected from Nepal’s national grid following flooding in the Bhotekoshi River.
Nepal resumes electricity exports to Bangladesh
Nepal also resumed exporting 40 MW of electricity to Bangladesh through India’s transmission network on October 23, after exports were suspended following flood damage to hydropower plants.
The flooding damaged the Trishuli and Chilime hydropower plants, which had been approved to supply electricity to Bangladesh. Damage to hydropower plants supplying electricity under bilateral agreements also partially affected exports to India’s Haryana state.
Shrestha said India’s Central Electricity Authority approved the export of electricity generated by other hydropower plants, allowing Nepal to resume exports to Bangladesh.
Under the new arrangement, electricity generated by the Solu, Kabeli-1 and Lower Modi hydropower plants has been approved for export to Bangladesh and Haryana, replacing supplies from the Trishuli, Devighat and Chilime hydropower plants.
The NEA and Bangladesh Power Development Board signed a five-year agreement in October 2024 under which Nepal exports 40 MW of electricity to Bangladesh daily for six months each year, from June 15 to November 15.
Shrestha said the resumption of exports to Bangladesh would help Nepal manage surplus electricity during the monsoon season and expand regional electricity trade.
India approves additional export capacity
India has also approved an additional 31 MW of electricity exports from Nepal, taking the total approved export capacity to India to about 1,179 MW, according to the NEA.
