with the onset of monsoon, Nepal has begun exporting electricity to Bangladesh. Starting at midnight on June 15, the country began supplying 40 megawatts (MW) of power to Bangladesh through India's transmission infrastructure, Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation Minister Deepak Khadka announced Sunday morning.
The country had first supplied electricity to Bangladesh on November 15, 2024 for a duration of just 12 hours. The export was made possible by a landmark agreement signed on October 3, 2024, in Kathmandu among Nepal, India, and Bangladesh. The deal enables Nepal to export electricity to a third country beyond India for the first time, using India's transmission system as a conduit.
Under the five-year agreement, Nepal will export 40 MW of electricity daily to Bangladesh during the wet season, from mid-June to mid-November each year.
Read: Nepal, India and Bangladesh Sign Historic Energy Trade Deal
Nepal has been exporting surplus electricity to India during the monsoon season for several years.
Minister Khadka underscored the strategic importance of the electricity sector as a key export industry for Nepal. “Electricity exports can play a crucial role in reducing imports and improving Nepal’s trade balance,” he said.
As per the agreement, 18.60 MW of the exported electricity will be sourced from the Trishuli Hydropower Project, while 21.40 MW will come from the Chilime Hydropower Plant. Transmission will occur via Nepal’s 400 kV Dhalkebar substation, through India's Muzaffarpur and Berhampur substations, to Bangladesh’s Bheramara substation.
According to Subarna Sapkota, Deputy Manager of the NEA’s System Operation Department, Nepal will export a total of 146.88 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) over the five-month period. The export is expected to generate around $9.4 million (approximately Rs 1.29 billion), with the sale price set at $0.064 per unit.
This historic export is expected to help balance Nepal’s energy supply, ensure optimal use of hydropower capacity during the wet season, and boost the national economy. According to Nepal’s Energy Development Roadmap, 2081, the country aims to generate 28,500 MW of electricity and export 15,000 MW by 2035.
Electricity Exports to India Continue
In addition to the Bangladesh deal, Nepal has continued and expanded electricity exports to India. Since June 1, the NEA has been supplying 185 MW to the Indian state of Haryana. That volume increased to 200 MW as of Saturday, June 14. The agreed sale price for this electricity is INR 5.25 per unit.
Nepal also began exporting 80 MW to the Indian state of Bihar starting at midnight on Sunday, with additional energy transactions ongoing through both the 400 kV and 132 kV Dhalkebar–Muzaffarpur transmission lines.
With the onset of the monsoon, water level and flow in rivers across the country have increased, boosting electricity production. After meeting domestic demand, the surplus is now being exported to both India and Bangladesh—strengthening Nepal’s role as a regional energy exporter.
