Nepal seeks to import power earlier from India after flood devastation, asks for approvals
While the Himalayan country usually imports electricity from India during the winter months, it has now asked that the required approvals for sending power be processed in September itself
Following the devastating flash floods that have severely impacted Nepal's power infrastructure, Kathmandu has sought India's approval to import electricity from the neighboring country earlier than usual, according to senior officials from the Union Power Ministry. The request comes as Nepal aims to address generation deficits caused by the disaster, with the processing of the approval requests currently underway, an official confirmed.
India has expressed willingness to provide Nepal with any additional power needed during this challenging time. While Nepal typically imports electricity from India during the winter months, starting around October, when power generation in the Himalayan nation is low due to freezing conditions, it exports excess hydropower to India during the summer months.
India's import of power from Nepal in the fiscal year 2025-26 was 3,299 million units (MUs), while the country exported 1,451 MUs to Nepal. However, the transmission of electricity across India's borders necessitates mandatory clearances from the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), among other authorities. According to an internal assessment, Nepal's electricity generation capacity has been reduced by approximately 550 megawatts (MW) due to the infrastructural damage caused by the floods.
As a result, the cross-border power flow to India has decreased by roughly 400 MW, reducing the peak from 950 MW to 1,000 MW.
Despite the reduction, officials are confident that India's vast national grid capacity and robust generation reserve margins are sufficient to absorb a temporary shortfall of 400 MW without disrupting grid stability or retail supply. The Nepalese Meteorology Department has also issued warnings of fresh rainfall and thunderstorms in the affected areas, where the flash floods have claimed the lives of about 675 people.
India is not anticipating the need for any exceptional emergency procurement or alternative arrangements to balance domestic demand, an official reassured.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
