KATHMANDU, Dec 21: Nepal has exported electricity worth Rs 13.4 billion to India in the first five months of the current Fiscal Year (FY) 2024/25.
The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has exported 1.76 billion units of electricity to India during the months of Shrawan (mid-July to mid-August), Bhadra (mid-August to mid-September), Ashoj (mid-September to mid-October), Kartik (mid-October to mid-November), and Mangsir (mid-November to mid-December) of the current fiscal year, which was surplus from the monsoon season after meeting domestic consumption.
The average rate of electricity exported to India in the four months is Rs 7.39 per unit. The NEA has been selling electricity in the states of Haryana and Bihar. Through these electricity sales, the NEA has earned INR 8.15 billion.
Nepal exports electricity worth Rs 8.32 billion to India
The highest electricity export was recorded in Shrawan when power worth Rs 4.15 billion was exported to India. The lowest amount of export was recorded in Mangsir, amounting to Rs 281.4 million. In Bhadra, electricity worth Rs 3.68 billion was exported, while in Ashoj, Rs 3.7 billion worth of electricity was exported, and in Kartik, the export amounted to Rs 1.87 billion.
The Managing Director of the NEA, Kulman Ghising, stated that the September disaster incidents caused significant damage to the 456 MW Upper Tamakoshi Hydroelectric Plant, leading to a halt in electricity production and affecting exports. He mentioned that the closure of Upper Tamakoshi reduced electricity exports in the subsequent months, and with the onset of the dry season, the production of hydropower projects also decreased, which led to the need for earlier imports this year compared to the previous year.
Currently, electricity exports have been suspended, and imports have started. With the onset of winter, the flow of water in rivers and streams has decreased, leading to reduced electricity production in hydropower projects. As a result, electricity imports will be required during the winter months to meet domestic demand. Once the flow of water in rivers and streams increases, electricity production will rise, and exports will resume. Additionally, this year, the export of 40 MW of electricity from India to Bangladesh has also started.
The target for revenue from electricity exports in the current fiscal year is about Rs 30 billion. However, due to the damage caused to hydropower projects and transmission lines by floods and landslides, the export target is expected to be affected.
The maintenance work is in full swing to bring the Upper Tamakoshi project into operation by December 25. Meanwhile, the reconstruction of the Kabeli Corridor transmission line has been completed and is now operational.
In the last fiscal year, electricity worth Rs 16.93 billion was imported from India. During the same period, electricity worth Rs 17.6 billion was exported. In the last fiscal year, Nepal became a net electricity exporter, exporting electricity worth Rs 130 million more than what was imported.
