Nepal to import 600 MW electricity daily from India for 15 hours

KATHMANDU: Nepal will continue importing 600 megawatts (MW) of electricity daily from India for 15 hours, starting Friday, the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has confirmed.

The electricity will be imported through the 400 kV Dhalkebar–Muzaffarpur transmission line.

According to NEA, power will be imported in two blocks: from 6 AM to 5 PM (solar hours) and again from 2 AM to 6 AM.

This marks a slight reduction from the previous schedule, under which Nepal had been importing electricity for 16 hours a day—6 AM to 5 PM and 11 PM to 4 AM—since mid-Chaitra.

NEA Executive Director Hitendra Dev Shakya expressed gratitude to the Indian authorities for extending the electricity import window until the end of June, despite the one-hour reduction. “We are thankful for India’s continued support during our time of need.

Although the import duration has decreased by an hour, the extension for two more months is a significant relief,” Shakya stated. He also noted that increasing water flow in Nepal’s rivers is gradually boosting domestic power generation.

As of Thursday, Nepal had been importing power for 16 hours daily. From Friday, this will be reduced to 15 hours. In addition, 54 MW of electricity is being imported via the Tanakpur–Mahendranagar transmission line.

Previously, during the winter months, India had allowed Nepal to import power for up to 20 hours per day until early March.

Since March 16, this was revised to “solar hours only” (6 AM to 6 PM). Nepal procures electricity from India’s Indian Energy Exchange (IEX) through competitive bidding in the Day-Ahead and Real-Time Markets.

Under the Nepal–India Power Exchange Committee (PEC) agreement, Nepal is permitted to import up to 350 MW, although only about 200 MW is currently being imported due to rising demand within India, attributed to high temperatures, the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL), and upcoming elections in Bihar.

Despite limitations, NEA maintains that it is prioritizing reliable electricity supply to the country’s industrial sector.

The authority has committed to importing electricity at competitive prices from India to make up for any shortfall in domestic production.

In a statement, NEA said it will continue efforts to ensure uninterrupted power to industries, emphasizing that domestic generation alone cannot meet current demand. “Until internal production fully meets demand, we will continue importing power from India—even at higher prices—to avoid disruptions for our industrial consumers,” the NEA said.