Nepal to earn Rs 1.25 billion in five months with power export to Bangladesh: Energy Minister

Kathmandu, June 15: Minister for Energy, Hydropower and Irrigation, Dipak Khadka, has said Nepal would earn Rs 1.25 billion in five months with the energy export to Bangladesh.

Minister Khadka informed that Nepal is exporting 40MW of power to Bangladesh every day, earning Rs 250 million in a month, at a program organized by his ministry. Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) began selling electricity to Bangladesh on Saturday for this season. The power is supplied via an Indian transmission line.

Nepal officially launched the energy export to Bangladesh on November 15 last year. It was, however brief supply for 11 and a half hours. A trilateral power agreement was signed between Nepal, India and Bangladesh on October 3, 2024. As per the agreement, the power export was conducted only for one and a half months in the last season, while the export began for this season yesterday.

The surplus power in the monsoon season is exported to India and Bangladesh, which would contribute to Nepal’s journey to prosperity, Minister Khadka said, adding that Nepal has been exporting more energy than imports since last year. According to him, the energy sector is reliable for the country’s sustainable economic growth, so the government is paying much attention to it.

However, making internal consumption more reliable and safe is equally important for us, he added. The Minister further shared that in addition to small-scale projects, mega projects like Budhigandaki and Upper Arun Hydropower are also being forwarded by the government, which he argued would strengthen the foundation for prosperity.

The government is planning to provide shares ranging from Rs 200 to Rs 500 thousand to poor households in the hydropower project area. The energy export began last night and will continue till November 15 for this season. In this slot, Nepal will export over 146.8 million units of electricity. The electricity reaches the Bherbara Substation of Bangladesh via Mujafarpur of India from the 400-KV Dhalkebar Substation of Nepal.

During the program, Ministry Secretary Suresh Acharya said discussion was going on to increase the amount of energy in Bangladesh. Executive Director at NEA, Hitendra Dev Shayka, said Nepal had entered the age of energy trade, earning billions of rupees.