Nepal Exports Electricity Worth Rs 13.4 Billion to India in the First Five Months of FY 2024/25
Nepal has exported electricity valued at Rs 13.4 billion to India during the first five months of the current fiscal year, FY 2024/25. The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) sold 1.76 billion units of surplus electricity generated during the monsoon season, after meeting domestic demand.
The average rate for electricity exported to India during this period was Rs 7.39 per unit. NEA’s sales, primarily to the states of Haryana and Bihar, generated INR 8.15 billion in revenue. The highest export occurred in Shrawan (mid-July to mid-August), with electricity worth Rs 4.15 billion exported. In contrast, the lowest export was recorded in Mangsir (mid-November to mid-December), amounting to Rs 281.4 million. In Bhadra (mid-August to mid-September), electricity exports were worth Rs 3.68 billion, followed by Rs 3.7 billion in Ashoj (mid-September to mid-October) and Rs 1.87 billion in Kartik (mid-October to mid-November).
NEA Managing Director Kulman Ghising noted that severe floods and landslides in September caused significant damage to the 456 MW Upper Tamakoshi Hydroelectric Plant, halting production and impacting exports. The dry season further reduced water flow in rivers, limiting hydropower generation and prompting early electricity imports this year compared to previous years.
Electricity exports are currently suspended due to reduced production during winter, necessitating imports to meet domestic demand. Exports are expected to resume when water levels rise in the spring. This fiscal year also saw the initiation of 40 MW of electricity exports from India to Bangladesh.
Despite a revenue target of Rs 30 billion from electricity exports, flood and landslide damage to hydropower projects and transmission lines may hinder achieving this goal. Maintenance work is underway to restore operations, including repairs to the Upper Tamakoshi project, scheduled for completion by December 25, and the recently completed Kabeli Corridor transmission line.
In the last fiscal year, Nepal exported electricity worth Rs 17.6 billion while importing Rs 16.93 billion, marking a net export surplus of Rs 130 million.
