KATHMANDU: The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has resumed exporting electricity to India after a significant rise in domestic power generation, marking a positive shift in Nepal’s energy trade.
Minister for Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation Deepak Khadka announced on Wednesday that Nepal began exporting 150 megawatts of electricity to India from midnight on Tuesday, following a seasonal boost in hydropower production triggered by early monsoon rainfall.
Speaking at a meeting of the Parliamentary Infrastructure Development Committee, Minister Khadka confirmed that Nepal’s current electricity supply has surpassed internal demand, allowing for cross-border export.
“We have now halted electricity imports from India and started exporting power instead,” he said.
During the winter months, Nepal had been importing up to 1,055 megawatts of electricity from India to meet demand due to reduced hydropower generation. However, with the onset of the rainy season, the country’s hydropower plants are now generating sufficient electricity to supply both households and industries, and to export surplus power.
Minister Khadka also dismissed recent rumors of load shedding as “baseless” and part of a “deliberate misinformation campaign.”
He said there is no shortage of electricity and that the NEA is efficiently managing supply and distribution.
Nepal’s increasing ability to export electricity marks a milestone in its energy independence and regional energy trade potential.
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