The door has opened for Nepal to import up to 350 MW of electricity from neighbouring Indian states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. This opportunity arose after officials from both countries reached a new deal during a bilateral mechanism meeting in Pokhara, Nepal. Nepal, which exports electricity to India in the wet season, needs to buy power from India in winter due to reduced output from its hydropower projects.
During the Power Exchange Committee meeting, Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) and India’s Central Electricity Authority (CEA) agreed to raise the power purchase rate by 1.5 per cent. This agreement allows Nepal to continue importing electricity from the three Indian states during the winter season. The purchase rate for electricity delivered through different transmission lines has been set, with rates ranging from NPR 8.22 to NPR 9.55 per unit.
NEA expects a secure electricity supply from India during the dry months of March and April when power demand increases in Nepal. The Nepali delegation, led by NEA Managing Director Hitendra Dev Shakya, and the Indian side, led by Vijay Kumar Singh from India’s Central Electricity Authority, were involved in the negotiations. The agreement ensures stable power supply for Nepal amid rising demand during the dry season.
