Nepal’s electricity export to India has surged to as much as 850 MW over the past two weeks, driven by increased rainfall and higher river water levels.
According to the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), the country is currently exporting more than 20,500 megawatt hours of electricity to India daily. NEA spokesperson Rajan Dhakal said that electricity production has risen notably in recent weeks, allowing the authority to sell excess power after meeting domestic demand.
With most hydropower plants operating under the run-of-river model, production peaks during the rainy season but falls in the dry months. Dhakal noted that optimal water flow in major rivers over the past fortnight has boosted output significantly.
NEA data shows production of 13,512 MWh from its own subsidiaries and 44,553 MWh from private developers. While Nepal’s peak-hour demand currently stands at 2,111 MW, total generation is around 3,000 MW—leaving a surplus of roughly 850 MW for export to India.
In FY 2024/25, Nepal earned a record Rs 17.46 billion from cross-border electricity trade, with Rs 17.19 billion from India and Rs 266.70 million from Bangladesh. The country became a net electricity exporter for the first time in FY 2023/24, earning a net profit of Rs 120 million.
Nepal has also been selling 40 MW of power to Bangladesh since mid-June under an arrangement supported by a letter of credit from Dhaka.
Currently, Nepal is permitted to export up to 940 MW—400 MW through a medium-term bilateral deal and 540 MW via the Indian Energy Exchange (IEX). While exports have grown significantly, the NEA has yet to reach its target of sending the full 940 MW, which it had aimed to achieve by early July.
