Summary
- India’s Central Electricity Authority has approved 24-hour electricity export of 600 MW to Nepal from April 1 to 15.
- From April 16 to 30, India will limit electricity export to Nepal between 2 AM and 6 PM daily.
- Nepal imports electricity annually from India during winter to meet domestic demand and will continue receiving 24-hour supply until April.
April 16, Kathmandu – India’s Central Electricity Authority has extended its permission to export electricity to Nepal for an additional 15 days, allowing 24-hour supply. Earlier, the authorization for 24-hour export of 600 megawatts was valid until March 31; this has now been extended from April 1 to 15.
Following this period, from April 16 to 30, electricity export will be modified whereby India will supply power to Nepal only from 2 AM to 6 PM, with no export between 6 PM and 2 AM. Subsequently, from July 1 to August 31, 24-hour export of 600 megawatts will resume.
From May 1 to June 30, power supply will be limited to 16 hours daily, specifically from 4 AM to 8 PM, with a suspension from 8 PM until 4 AM.
The Central Electricity Authority under India’s Ministry of Power has granted Nepal Electricity Authority permission to import up to 600 megawatts through the 400 kV Muzaffarpur-Dhalkebar transmission line via the Indian Power Exchange.
Supply arrangements after April will be reviewed again in March. Accordingly, a revised schedule partially reducing supply hours has been published.
Due to reduced water flow in rivers and streams during winter leading to decreased hydroelectricity generation, Nepal habitually imports electricity from India annually to meet domestic demand.
According to Hitendra Dev Shakya, Executive Director of Nepal Electricity Authority, the available power will ensure 24-hour electricity supply until April, and the 16-hour export from May onwards will be sufficient to meet Nepal’s demand.
