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Nepal exported electricity worth more than Rs. 10 billion during the first two months of the current fiscal year 2026/27. According to the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), around 1.19 billion units of electricity worth Rs. 10.17 billion were exported to India and Bangladesh between July 17 and September 16.

The electricity was sold through bilateral agreements and Energy Exchange market. The NEA exported electricity worth more than Rs. 5.08 billion in Saun (July 17-August 16) and Rs. 5.09 billion in Bhadra (August 17-September 16).

In Bhadra alone, 565.60 million units of electricity was exported to India and Bangladesh. Of this, 421.6 million units were sold under bilateral agreements, generating more than Rs. 3.64 billion, while 143.9 million units were traded through the exchange market, earning around Rs. 1.45 billion. In Saun, around 620.56 million units were exported. More than 461 million units worth around Rs. 4 billion was sold under bilateral agreements, while 158.96 million units worth Rs. 1.08 billion was traded through the exchange market.

However, electricity exports to Bangladesh have currently been suspended following damage to the structures of the Chilime and Trishuli hydropower projects caused by the Bhotekoshi River flood on August 26.

NEA Managing Director Dirghayu Kumar Shrestha said the authority had requested the Indian side to provide the necessary approval to resume electricity exports to Bangladesh from other hydropower projects.

He said the NEA expected electricity exports to continue until November during the current monsoon season.

“Although around 350 MW of electricity generation from hydropower projects was disrupted by the Bhotekoshi flood, other hydropower projects are operating at full capacity, which has helped maintain domestic supply and export surplus electricity regularly,” Shrestha told The Rising Nepal.

According to him, electricity exports are expected to increase in the current fiscal year compared to last year, as around 500-600 MW of new generation capacity has been added to the national grid, with more capacity expected to be added in the coming days.

In the last fiscal year 2025/26, NEA exported electricity worth Rs. 29.31 billion while import worth Rs. 10.56 billion.

“The NEA is currently exporting around 500-700 MW of electricity daily, depending on the available surplus,” he said. Shrestha said that around 1,050 MW of electricity was exported to India on September 17, when most industries remained closed for Bishwakarma Puja. "We were able to export such a large amount of electricity on the day of Bishwakarma Puja as most industries remained closed for the festival,” he said.

The NEA has been exporting surplus electricity to India through bilateral agreements and the Indian Energy Exchange, while electricity is supplied to Bangladesh through a tripartite arrangement involving Nepal, India and Bangladesh.

Author: Laxman Kafle