Nepal’s Hydropower Exports To India Surge 24-fold To 1,140 MW Since 2021

Nepal’s hydropower exports to India have grown remarkably fast. Back in October 2021, Nepal only exported 39 MW of electricity to India. Today, that number’s reached 1,140.7 MW. That’s more than 24 times the original amount, and it’s happened in less than three years.

Nepal’s hydropower exports to India have skyrocketed — from just 39 MW in 2021 to over 1,140 MW today.

The growth came in stages. Nepal’s total exports hit 941 MW from 28 projects after one round of approvals added 251 MW. Then roughly six more projects, including Likhu-2, added approximately 199.70 MW. That pushed the total to an estimated 1,140.7 MW. The electricity now flows through power lines at Kataiya, Raxaul, and Ramnagar.

Nepal sells its power through India’s energy markets. It’s been using the Day Ahead Market of the Indian Energy Exchange since 2021. It’s also got access to India’s Real-Time Market. On top of that, Nepal has signed medium-term deals with electricity distributors in Haryana and Bihar. The exports to Bihar mark the first time Nepal’s sold power there through these types of agreements.

The money coming in has been significant. Nepal earned roughly NPR 16.93 billion in revenue last fiscal year. Electricity sales brought in approximately NPR 17.06 billion as a net exporter. Since the start of FY 2025-26, Nepal’s collected NPR 15 billion from these sales. NEA reportedly aims to export electricity worth Rs. 25 billion in the current fiscal year alone.

Nepal exports most of its power during the monsoon season, when rivers run high and electricity production peaks. During dry seasons, Nepal actually imports power to meet its own needs. Last year, Nepal reportedly supplied India with 600 MW around the clock for six months. It also exported 2.34 billion kWh to India in the last fiscal year.

Nepal’s got big plans ahead. It’s aiming to double exports to 1.1 GW this summer. Within two years, it’s hoping to reach 2.5 GW. There’s also a long-term agreement in place to supply India with 10,000 MW over 10 years. Nepal’s larger goal is to produce 28,500 MW and export 15,000 MW by 2035. A 40 MW deal with Bangladesh’s also been finalized, though the signing’s been delayed.

✅ Claims in this article were verified using AI-assisted fact-checking.