New Delhi clears electricity exports to Nepal for 18 hours a day until December 31 amid severe disruption to hydropower infrastructure. India has approved expedited electricity exports to Nepal following devastating floods that damaged hydropower infrastructure and caused widespread destruction across the Himalayan country.
The Ministry of Power has authorised electricity exports to Nepal for 18 hours a day from September 13 through December 31, 2026, enabling Kathmandu to meet its power requirements as it recovers from the disaster.
“The approval will help Nepal meet its power requirements during this difficult period and further strengthen the close and longstanding energy cooperation between India and Nepal,” the Ministry of Power said.
The ministry also said the quantum of electricity to be exported to Nepal from January 2027 would be reviewed in December. Nepal had approached New Delhi for the necessary approvals to begin importing electricity earlier than usual amid severe damage to its hydropower infrastructure caused by the floods.
The country normally begins importing electricity from India around October, when power generation declines during the winter months. During summer when hydropower generation rises, Nepal typically exports surplus electricity to India.
The recent floods have disrupted this seasonal pattern by damaging critical hydropower facilities and other infrastructure.
India and Nepal have developed a two way electricity trade relationship in recent years. Nepal exports surplus hydropower to India during periods of high generation, while India supplies electricity to Nepal when domestic generation is insufficient.
Official data show that India imported 3,299 million units of electricity from Nepal during the financial year 2025-26, while exports from India to Nepal stood at 1,451 million units during the same period.
The expedited approval is expected to provide Nepal with additional electricity supplies during a particularly difficult period and reinforce energy cooperation between the two neighbouring countries.