Nepal starts exporting 40MW electricity to Bangladesh

KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 15: Nepal has started exporting electricity to Bangladesh today, marking another historic milestone in the regional power trade sector. On Friday, Nepal exported 40 megawatts of electricity to Bangladesh, expanding its power trade beyond India for the first time.

This significant event was inaugurated virtually by Minister for Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation Deepak Khadka from Nepal, Indian Minister of Power Manohar Lal, and Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, Adviser for the Ministry of Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources of Bangladesh. They jointly pressed a switch to signify the beginning of the power export.

The electricity will be transmitted to the Muzaffarpur substation in India through the 400 kV Dhalkebar-Muzaffarpur transmission line connecting Nepal and India. From there, it will be supplied to Bangladesh via the 400 kV Baharampur (India)-Bheramara (Bangladesh) transmission line.

Power export from Nepal to Bangladesh began at 12:30 pm today and will continue until midnight. After this initial export, electricity trade to Bangladesh will resume on June 15, 2025.

Permission for this export was granted by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission of India, allowing electricity to be exported through Madhya Pradesh to Bangladesh. This development follows a tripartite agreement reached on October 3 between high-level officials from Nepal, India, and Bangladesh, signed by NEA Executive Director Kulman Ghising on behalf of Nepal.

The Central Electricity Authority of India approved the export of 40 MW of power, including 18.60 MW from the Trishuli Hydropower Project and 20.40 MW from the Chilime Hydropower Project. The export permit is valid until October 2, 2029.

The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) will export 40 MW of electricity to Bangladesh annually for six months during the monsoon season, from June 15 to November 15. NEA will sell the electricity in US dollars at a rate of 6.40 US cents per unit (equivalent to Rs 8.62 based on today’s exchange rate), earning 28,160 USD for the 11 hours and 30 minutes of power export today. Payments will be received at the Muzaffarpur transmission point.