Nepal exports electricity to India for another year
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Nepal announced that it is exporting surplus electricity to India through its power exchange market for the second consecutive year. The Nepal-India power exchange agreement allows the utility body to export electricity.
The neighbouring nation started exporting 39 MW of electricity to India from Thursday, said the state-owned Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA). Excess rainfall has prompted Nepal to export electricity through its power exchange market.
NEA Deputy Managing Director Pradeep Thike said the country started selling 39 MW of electricity to Indian buyers from midnight on Thursday. "The electricity is generated from Trishuli and Devghat Power Station through Dhalkebar-Muzaffarpur transmission line"
The NEA is also trying to acquire permission to sell 144 MW of electricity from the Kaligandaki Hydro project, by which it would be able to export additional power from Saturday.
India allowed the NEA to sell an additional 325 MW of electricity generated from four hydel projects— Kali Gandaki (144MW), Middle Marsyangdi (70MW), Marsyangdi (69MW), and Likhu 4 Hydropower Project with 52.4MW capacity.
In November 2021, Nepal had traded 39 MW of power generated from the same hydropower projects, 24 MW from Trishuli hydropower and 15 MW from Devighat powerhouse. During the dry season, the Himalayan nation experienced a shortage of electricity and stopped exporting.
Nepal's hydropower plants produce excess electricity in the monsoon season due to elevated water levels in the rivers. The government invited bids from Indian companies to sell its 200MW surplus energy under a long-term power purchase agreement last month.
Nepal Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba received approval from the Indian government during a recent visit. It can earn up to NPR 14 billion from the Indian market over the next five-and-half month period.