Nepal to export electricity to Bangladesh for the first time, marking historic milestone

Nepal is set to export electricity to Bangladesh for the first time, starting today. This follows approval from Indian authorities, enabling the transfer of 40 MW of power through India. A trilateral agreement among Nepal, India, and Bangladesh was signed on October 3 in Kathmandu, allowing Nepal to export electricity from June 15 to November 15 each year for the next five years.

For this year, Nepal will only export electricity from 12:45 PM to midnight Nepali time. The electricity, sourced from the 25 MW Trishuli and 22 MW Chilime hydropower plants, will generate revenue of approximately 3.79 million Nepali rupees, priced at 6.40 US cents per unit. This marks the first time Nepal will sell electricity in US dollars, having previously exported only to India in Indian rupees.

The export will take place through the Dhalkebar-Muzaffarpur 400 kV transmission line to India, and then onwards to Bangladesh via India’s Baharampur-Bheramara line. The energy ministers of Nepal, India, and Bangladesh will virtually inaugurate this historic event on Friday.

If this export continues as planned, Nepal expects to export 144,000 MWh of electricity over five months, generating $9.2 million annually.