India reduces electricity export duration to Nepal by one hour

KATHMANDU: India has reduced the duration of electricity export to Nepal by one hour, limiting it to 15 hours per day, according to the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA).

Starting Friday, Nepal will be allowed to import electricity from India between 6 AM to 5 PM (solar hours) and again from 2 AM to 6 AM.

Previously, the country had been importing power for 16 hours daily, including from 6 AM to 5 PM and 11 PM to 4 AM.

India has granted permission to import up to 600 megawatts of electricity daily through the 400 kV Dhalkebar–Muzaffarpur transmission line, the NEA confirmed. In addition, Nepal has been importing 54 megawatts of electricity through the Tanakpur–Mahendranagar line.

The import is crucial for Nepal, especially during winter months when domestic electricity production significantly decreases.

When India first permitted winter electricity imports last Mangsir, it allowed up to 20 hours of import per day until Chait 2, which was later restricted to solar hours only.

Since Chait 15, the daily import limit had been adjusted to 16 hours before being revised again this Friday.

Nepal procures electricity from India’s Indian Energy Exchange Limited (IEX) through competitive bidding in both the Day-Ahead and Real-Time markets.

Under this system, Nepal bids for the required quantity and price a day in advance.

So far, Nepal has been importing up to 550 MW of electricity during the day via IEX.

Additionally, power is also imported through the Nepal-India Power Exchange Committee (PEC).

The NEA stated that despite the reduction in import hours, they are working to ensure adequate power supply for domestic demand through a combination of imports and internal generation.