Urja Khabar
Kathmandu: Nepal has halted electricity exports to Bangladesh after floods along the Bhotekoshi–Trishuli corridor severely damaged power-generation infrastructure, leaving two major hydropower projects completely destroyed.
Before the August 26 disaster, Nepal was exporting 40 MW of electricity to Bangladesh during the rainy season—18.60 MW generated by the Trishuli Hydropower Centre and 21.40 MW by the Chilime Hydropower Project.
Rajan Dhakal, spokesperson for the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), said the exports had to be suspended because the existing agreement allows Nepal to sell Bangladesh only electricity generated by the two designated projects.
An agreement signed on October 3, 2024, among the NEA, Bangladesh Power Development Board and India’s NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Limited had paved the way for Nepal to export 40 MW from the two projects to Bangladesh.
“However, we have sent a proposal to the concerned authorities in India and Bangladesh to export electricity generated by other hydropower projects,” Dhakal said.
The disruption comes as Nepal has been steadily expanding electricity trade with its neighbours. In recent years, the country has exported surplus power to both India and Bangladesh during the rainy season, when hydropower generation increases.
The suspension also carries a significant financial cost. Nepal earned US$9.4 million (Rs 1.29 billion) from electricity exports to Bangladesh between July 1 and November 15 last year.
