India approves 654 MW electricity exports to flood-hit Nepal until December 31

Kathmandu, September 15, 2026 — India has approved the export of up to 654 megawatts of electricity to Nepal for 18 hours a day until December 31, as Nepal faces a power shortfall following extensive damage to its hydropower infrastructure in the recent floods.

The approval, effective from September 13, allows the Nepal Electricity Authority to receive electricity from India between midnight and 6 pm each day. Up to 600 MW will be supplied through the Muzaffarpur-Dhalkebar 400 kV double-circuit transmission line, while another 54 MW can be transmitted through the Tanakpur-Mahendranagar 132 kV line. The volume of electricity to be supplied from January 2027 will be reviewed in December.

India’s Ministry of Power said the recent floods caused substantial damage to Nepal’s hydropower infrastructure, reducing domestic generation capacity and creating an additional need for electricity imports. The ministry said the approval would help Nepal meet its energy requirements during the crisis while strengthening the longstanding energy cooperation between the two countries.

The floods in late August severely affected hydropower projects and transmission infrastructure in Rasuwa and Nuwakot. Nepal’s power generation capacity has fallen by more than 400 MW as several projects remain damaged or out of operation. At least six hydropower projects were reported to have been completely destroyed, while several others sustained partial damage.