India has approved 654 MW electricity exports to Nepal for 18 hours daily until December 2026 after floods damaged Nepal’s hydropower capacity.
New Delhi: The government has approved the export of up to 654 MW of electricity to Nepal for 18 hours every day until the end of December 2026, the Ministry of Power said on Monday. The decision comes after recent flash floods damaged hydropower infrastructure in Nepal and reduced its domestic power generation capacity.
Under the approval, up to 600 MW of electricity will be exported through the Muzaffarpur-Dhalkebar 400 kV Double Circuit transmission line, while another 54 MW will be supplied through the Tanakpur-Mahendranagar 132 kV Single Circuit line.
The Ministry of Power said the quantum of electricity to be exported from January 2027 onwards will be reviewed in December 2026.
Nepal’s Hydropower Capacity Hit by Floods
Recent floods have caused significant damage to hydropower infrastructure in Nepal, disrupting power generation and creating an additional requirement for electricity.
Flash floods in the Trishuli and Lhende Khola river basins on August 26 caused severe damage to local infrastructure and disrupted several power-generating stations. The floods resulted in the loss of around 550 MW of Nepal’s power generation capacity.
Before the floods, Nepal had around 4,200 MW of installed and operational power generation capacity.
India Steps Up Energy Support to Nepal
The Ministry of Power said the additional electricity supply will help Nepal meet its power requirements during the difficult period while further strengthening the longstanding energy partnership between the two countries.
“India remains committed to supporting Nepal and strengthening bilateral cooperation in the energy sector,” the ministry said.
No Major Impact on India’s Power Supply
A senior Power Ministry official told Business Standard that the reduction in hydropower flows from Nepal to India is unlikely to have any discernible impact on India’s domestic electricity supplies.
The official also said the impact of the flash floods and damage to Nepal’s hydropower projects on India’s power grid remains minimal and fully manageable.
Aman 
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