Nepal is set to export hydroelectricity to Bangladesh via India for the first time.
Under this deal, Nepal will export 40 MW of power during the rainy season, specifically from June 15 to November 15 for five years. The agreement was signed by officials of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) and India’s NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam (NVVN). The electricity will be transmitted through the 400 kV Dhalkebar (Nepal)–Muzaffarpur (India) cross-border transmission line, with NEA supplying power to NVVN, which will then transmit it to BPDB. NEA plans to export 25 MW from the Trishuli hydropower project (HPP) and 22 MW from the Chilime HPP, having already secured approval from the Indian side. The total expected export over five months is 144 GWh, priced at the rate of USD0.064 per unit.