Kathmandu, Sept 15: India has cleared electricity exports to Nepal for up to 18 hours a day until December 31, helping Nepal manage an expected power shortage after floods destroyed a significant share of its hydropower capacity.
India’s Ministry of Power has reportedly approved exports of up to 654 MW, with the arrangement subject to review in December. The decision comes after last month’s catastrophic floods damaged or destroyed more than a dozen hydropower projects and disrupted Nepal’s electricity generation.
The disaster killed nearly 1,400 people in Nepal and Tibet, while more than 5,300 remain missing, including around 900 hydropower workers.
The Indian ministry said the approval would help Nepal meet its energy needs during the crisis and deepen the two countries’ longstanding power cooperation.
Nepal depends on hydropower for almost all of its electricity and had recently emerged as a seasonal power exporter. During the rainy season, it was selling more than 600 MW to India and around 40 MW to Bangladesh. Those exports stopped after floods hit major hydropower areas in Rasuwa and Nuwakot.
With generation capacity damaged, Nepal is now expected to increase electricity imports from India to meet domestic demand in the coming months.
The government is also seeking international financial support for reconstruction. Officials estimate that at least $5 billion will be needed for the initial recovery, arguing that the scale of the destruction highlights the growing financial burden climate disasters place on vulnerable countries.
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