In a remarkable post-disaster recovery, Nepal exported over $39 million (approximately NPR 5.92 billion) worth of electricity to India between mid-September and mid-October. The rebound highlights the resilience of Nepal's power infrastructure shortly after severe flash floods disrupted cross-border transmission networks.
Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Executive Director Dirghayu Kumar Shrestha confirmed that export operations swiftly normalized following brief interruptions caused by the August disaster. Nearly two-thirds of the cross-border electricity supply delivered to India during this monthly period was executed under bilateral agreements.
The recovery comes in the wake of catastrophic flash floods triggered by an ice-rock avalanche near the Nepal-Tibet border on August 26. The disaster devastated northern and central regions, claiming around 1,400 lives, leaving over 5,000 people missing, and causing widespread damage to homes, roads, bridges, and hydropower facilities.
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Adding momentum to the regional power trade, Nepal also resumed exporting 40 megawatts of electricity to Bangladesh through India's transmission grid on October 23. The supply to Bangladesh had been temporarily halted after the Bhotekoshi flash floods damaged the designated Trishuli and Chilime hydropower plants.
Meanwhile, international relief efforts are under way, with the UN climate damages fund earmarking $20 million in Nepal's first-ever loss and damage payout to support recovery. As damaged hydropower plants undergo full restoration, Nepal's energy sector is set to further bolster regional power integration.
