KATHMANDU, Dec 20: Nepal is preparing to export 30 MW of electricity to India from next June.

Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Barshaman Pun said that the government is preparing to export 30 MW of electricity to India from next year.

“The electricity generated from June to mid-November will be exported,” said Minister Pun. He said that the Indian market has been explored as there is surplus electricity in Nepal during the monsoon. As most of the hydropower projects in Nepal are based on river flow, electricity is generated at full capacity during the rainy season.

He said that the export will take place through Power Transmission Company in Nepal (PTCN). “We will export electricity 24 hours a day for four months from next year,” he told Republica. “The electricity produced in Nepal will be exported to the Punjab region of India.” Although the Indian side seems interested in making the purchase, the final decision on price has not been made yet. “We will make necessary decisions after the Indian side sends the rate,” he added.

Minister Pun said that the electricity generated in Nepal can be exported to India on a regular basis as soon as the construction of the 456 MW Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project is completed. “The target is to generate 76 MW of electricity from one unit of the project by next April,” he said. “The generation will start in full capacity by that time.”

Minister Pun has claimed that the electricity generated in Nepal will not be wasted under any circumstances. “There is no reason the electricity generated in Nepal will not find a market,” he said. “If regular electricity is made available, neighboring India and Bangladesh will readily buy it.”

The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has stated that there will be surplus electricity as soon as the construction of the 456 MW Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project is completed. The project is expected to be connected to the national grid within the current fiscal year. Out of the total 7.74 billion units need, NEA imported 1.72 billion units from neighboring India in the fiscal year 2019/20.