Nepal Begins Power Export to Bangladesh and India, Enters International Energy Market

KATHMANDU: Minister of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Dipak Khadka, announced that Nepal has officially begun exporting 40 MW of electricity to Bangladesh via the India Grid and 80 MW to the Indian state of Bihar. This marks Nepal’s significant entry into the international energy market and reflects the country’s growing energy surplus and commitment to regional energy security.

Minister Khadka highlighted that this breakthrough opens access to a 5,000 MW market, signaling broader opportunities for Nepal as a regional energy exporter.

He expressed special thanks to Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli for his visionary leadership, as well as to Manohar Lal Khattar, Minister of Power, Government of India, Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, Adviser for the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources of Bangladesh’s interim government, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba for their unwavering support.

“This is just the beginning of Nepal’s journey as an energy exporter,” Minister Khadka stated.

Moreover, Subarna Sapkota, Deputy Manager of the NEA Electricity System Control Department, shared that 146.88 million units of electricity will be exported in five months. The government will earn Rs 1.29 billion in five months from the sale of the electricity. The selling rate of electricity exported under the agreement is 6.40 US cents per unit. The electricity will reach Bhermara Substation in Bangladesh via Muzaffarpur, Behrampur, India from Nepal’s 400 KV Dhalkebar Substation.

Meanwhile, the NEA has continued its electricity exports to neighboring India. The NEA has also started exporting electricity to the Indian state of Haryana this year. It had been exporting 185 MW of electricity since June 1, which increased to 200 MW from Saturday. As per the bilateral agreement between Nepal and India, the selling rate of this electricity export is 5.25 Indian rupees per unit.

Similarly, the NEA started exporting 80 MW of electricity to the Indian state of Bihar since 12:00 last night.

In addition, additional electricity is being purchased and sold in the Indian market through the Dhalkebar-Muzaffarpur 400 kV and 132 kV transmission lines. As the electricity production in Nepal has increased with the onset of the rainy season the surplus electricity is being exported to India and Bangladesh.