Kathmandu: In a strategic move bolstered by increased electricity generation, Nepal has embarked on exporting approximately 400 megawatts of electricity to neighboring India every day. The initiative, spearheaded by the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), commenced last Monday night, marking a significant milestone in the region’s energy landscape.

The surge in electricity output is attributed to the advent of the monsoon season coupled with soaring temperatures, leading to heightened snowmelt in the Himalayas, as highlighted by NEA sources.

Kul Man Ghising, the Managing Director of the NEA, disclosed that Nepal presently channels around 400 megawatts of surplus electricity to India daily. Moreover, he outlined the NEA’s ambitious goal to escalate the export figures to a range between 1,000 to 1,200 megawatts of surplus electricity to the competitive market within the current fiscal year.

In a bid to facilitate the export endeavor, the NEA has greenlit the export of 656 megawatts of electricity originating from 15 hydropower plants across Nepal to the competitive market. This proactive step underscores Nepal’s commitment to harnessing its abundant hydroelectric potential for regional energy security and economic prosperity.

Conversely, the NEA faced the challenge of bridging the energy deficit during the winter season, necessitating the import of electricity amounting to Rs 15.21 billion to meet the burgeoning demand, as reported by NEA authorities.

The initiation of electricity export to India not only signifies Nepal’s burgeoning energy prowess but also underscores the burgeoning bilateral cooperation between the two South Asian nations in the realm of energy trade.