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India has approved the export of up to 654 megawatts (MW) of electricity to Nepal for up to 18 hours a day, providing a crucial lifeline to Nepal after devastating floods damaged hydropower infrastructure and reduced domestic power generation capacity.

India’s Ministry of Power has authorised the export from September 13 to December 31, 2026, allowing electricity to be supplied between midnight and 6 p.m. each day.

Key highlights

- Up to 654 MW of electricity can be imported from India.

- 600 MW will be supplied through the 400 kV Muzaffarpur–Dhalkebar double-circuit transmission line.

- An additional 54 MW will be supplied through the 132 kV Tanakpur–Mahendranagar single-circuit line.

- The approval is valid from September 13 to December 31, 2026.

- Electricity will be available for 18 hours a day, from midnight to 6 p.m.

- India will review the export quantity for January 2027 onward in December 2026.

The approval comes after the massive Bhotekoshi flood caused extensive damage to Nepal’s hydropower projects and other electricity infrastructure. With several generating facilities affected, Nepal is facing a larger gap between domestic electricity production and demand.

The additional import capacity is expected to help Nepal manage its electricity supply, particularly as the country heads toward the winter season when domestic hydropower generation normally declines because of lower river flows.

The decision also highlights the growing importance of cross-border electricity trade between Nepal and India. With Nepal’s hydropower sector increasingly integrated into the regional power market, imports can provide short-term supply security while damaged domestic projects are being repaired.

For Nepal, the approval offers immediate relief at a particularly difficult time. The country can use the additional power to maintain industrial activity, protect household supply and reduce pressure on the domestic electricity system while flood-damaged hydropower infrastructure undergoes rehabilitation.

India has said the decision will help address Nepal’s immediate electricity requirements and further strengthen the long-standing energy cooperation between the two countries.

The three-and-a-half-month approval will therefore serve as an important bridge for Nepal until domestic generation capacity can be restored and the winter electricity situation becomes clearer.