India Clears 18-Hour Daily Power Export to Nepal Till Year-End

NEW DELHI — The Ministry of Power of India has approved an 18-hour daily export of power to Nepal through December 31, 2026, delivering urgent regional energy support following catastrophic monsoon floods that severely disabled the Himalayan country's domestic hydropower stations. The official clearance, which took effect on September 13, permits the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) to import up to 654 megawatts (MW) of electricity from the Indian grid between 00:00 hours and 18:00 hours daily. The temporary emergency transmission is vital today to avert widespread load-shedding and keep hospitals, commercial centers, and residential zones functional across Nepal during critical post-disaster recovery operations.

Bilateral Transmission Allocations Across Cross-Border Grids

Under the statutory clearance granted by Indian authorities, power will flow across two primary bilateral transmission interconnectors linking Indian substations with Nepal’s national distribution network.

According to the transmission schedule sanctioned by the Ministry of Power:

• Muzaffarpur – Dhalkebar Interconnector: Up to 600 MW will be transmitted through the 400 kV cross-border line, representing the primary bulk volume of the export quota.

• Tanakpur – Mahendranagar Interconnector: Up to 54 MW will be dispatched via the western 132 kV link to stabilize provincial grid loads in Nepal's Sudurpashchim province.

The export window covers an 18-hour continuous block during off-peak and daytime operational cycles, allowing Nepal to preserve its remaining reservoir storage while maintaining continuous base-load stability.

The decision comes despite elevated domestic power demand inside India, highlighting New Delhi's regional grid integration policy under its broader "Neighbourhood First" diplomatic framework.

Heavy Flood Damage Knocks Out Nepalese Hydro Generation

The cross-border export authorization follows unprecedented rainfall and riverine flooding across central and eastern Nepal, which triggered widespread landslides and silt deposition in critical river basins.

Torrential waters breached intakes, damaged penstock pipes, and flooded turbine halls across both state-owned and independent power projects, knocking hundreds of megawatts of domestic hydro generation offline. Key river systems, including the Bagmati and Koshi basins, registered record discharge levels that forced plant operators to conduct emergency shutdowns to prevent catastrophic turbine erosion from suspended sediment.

With domestic hydropower generation curtailed by more than one-third, the Nepal Electricity Authority faced imminent industrial rolling blackouts ahead of major autumn festive cycles without immediate imports from the Indian electricity market.

Impact on Citizens, Industries, and Bilateral Trade

The emergency export of power prevents extensive disruptions for businesses, urban centers, and essential public utilities across Kathmandu, Pokhara, and the industrial corridors of the Terai plains.

For Nepalese industrial consumers, continuous energy access prevents costly supply-chain shutdowns in cement, steel, and consumer manufacturing units that rely heavily on grid supply. In the domestic sector, steady electricity stabilizes municipal water pumping, digital communications infrastructure, and disaster-relief coordination centers managing rehabilitation efforts.

For regional energy markets, the arrangement reinforces the cross-border electricity framework established between South Asian nations, demonstrating that regional interconnectors can function as bilateral shock absorbers during natural disasters.

Official Sources

Operational clearances, technical parameters, and export quotas were issued in an official statement released by the Ministry of Power (India) and confirmed through transmission notifications coordinated with the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) and updates published via the Press Information Bureau (PIB). Bilateral operational coordination was reported in conjunction with administrative updates from the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA).

Quotes

"The recent floods have caused significant damage to hydropower infrastructure in Nepal, reducing its domestic power generation capacity and creating an additional requirement for electricity. 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 in an official statement.

According to officials familiar with the transmission protocol, India remains committed to supporting Nepal’s immediate humanitarian and infrastructural needs, ensuring that cross-border electricity flows remain robust despite broader seasonal load constraints.

Why It Matters

The development shows the strategic resilience of cross-border transmission corridors in South Asia. By allowing up to 654 MW of power to cross the border daily, India's power grid mitigates an acute humanitarian and economic breakdown in Nepal, illustrating how energy diplomacy provides immediate operational relief when natural hazards paralyze localized generation infrastructure.

Key Facts at a Glance

• Export Volume: Up to 654 MW approved for daily dispatch across two cross-border lines.

• Operational Window: 18 hours per day (00:00 hours to 18:00 hours) through December 31, 2026.

• Interconnector Routes: 600 MW allocated through the Muzaffarpur–Dhalkebar line; 54 MW routed via Tanakpur–Mahendranagar.

• Catalyst: Severe flood damage to Nepalese run-of-the-river hydropower facilities cutting domestic output.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did India approve the emergency export of power to Nepal?

Severe monsoon floods and landslides damaged major Nepalese hydropower stations, creating an acute energy shortage that required immediate cross-border imports to prevent blackouts.

What are the specific hours of the power transmission?

The Ministry of Power approved exports for 18 hours a day, active from 00:00 hours to 18:00 hours daily through December 31, 2026.

Which transmission lines carry the electricity?

Power is routed through two main cross-border corridors: up to 600 MW via the Muzaffarpur–Dhalkebar line and up to 54 MW via the Tanakpur–Mahendranagar connection.

Source: Ministry of Power (India), Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), Central Electricity Authority (CEA), and the Press Information Bureau (PIB).