Kathmandu, 15 November (HS). The Indian government has given permission to export Nepal’s electricity to Bangladesh on Thursday, the last day of the trilateral power trade agreement. The Energy Ministers of India, Nepal and Bangladesh jointly inaugurated the project today. With this, for the first time, Nepal has started exporting its electricity to a third country other than India. Under the agreement, Nepal will be able to export electricity only today. After this, export of electricity will be started again from June 15, 2025.
India’s Energy Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Nepal’s Energy Minister Deepak Khadka and Mohammad Faizul Kabir, Advisor to the Energy Ministry of the Interim Government of Bangladesh, jointly inaugurated the project virtually today. At the inauguration ceremony, India’s Energy Minister Khattar said that this is a historic achievement in regional energy cooperation. He said that today the first export of electricity from Nepal to Bangladesh through Indian grid is a historic initiative. Khattar said it reflects India’s commitment to promoting regional energy integration and sustainable development in South Asia.
At the inauguration ceremony, Nepal’s Energy Minister Deepak Khadka said that exporting electricity to Bangladesh via India is going to prove to be a milestone in Nepal’s electricity trade. Expressing his gratitude towards the Indian Government, he said that with the help of India, Nepal’s access to electricity is the beginning of a new economic revolution in Nepal. Minister Khadka said that from next year, Nepal can send 40 MW electricity for a period of 6 months, which will increase the income source of Nepal and will help in development works.
The power generated from the 25 MW Trishuli Hydroelectric Project built with Indian assistance and the 22 MW Chilim Hydroelectric Project built through a subsidiary company will be exported to Bangladesh. These are the projects which have been approved for export of power in India. According to the tripartite agreement between Nepal, India and Bangladesh, electricity will be exported from Nepal to Bangladesh from June 15 to November 15. After exporting today, electricity will not be exported this year. According to Nepal Electricity Authority, export of electricity will be started again from June 15, 2025.
