Nepal to Export Nearly 1,000 MW of Electricity to India

In a step towards strengthening energy cooperation between India and Nepal, Nepal will soon begin exporting nearly 1,000 MW of electricity to India, as announced by India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.

The announcement came after Jaishankar held a meeting with Nepal’s Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba in New Delhi, recently. Jaishankar described the development as a "new milestone" in the ever-evolving relationship between the two neighboring countries. The meeting, which was Deuba's first official visit abroad since assuming office, focused on a broad range of bilateral issues, with a particular emphasis on energy, trade, connectivity, and infrastructure development.

Jaishankar highlighted that this energy export is a testament to the strong and growing ties between India and Nepal, which are underpinned by India’s 'Neighbourhood First' policy and the centuries-old cultural and people-to-people connections. "Glad to note that Nepal will be exporting close to 1,000 MW of electricity to India, a new milestone," Jaishankar stated in a post on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

He added that the multifaceted cooperation between India and Nepal continues to propel the bilateral relationship forward. Foreign Minister Deuba, in her response, expressed gratitude to the Indian government for its recent approval of an additional 251 MW of power exports from 12 hydropower projects in Nepal.

This new approval brings the total approved hydropower export from Nepal to India to 941 MW, a significant increase that Deuba believes will elevate the power sector cooperation between the two countries to new heights. "Thanks to the Government of India for additional approval of 251 MW of power export from 12 hydropower projects in Nepal to India during the wet season months on a mid-term basis," Deuba noted on X.

"With this quantum, I am delighted to mention that the Government of India has granted approval for the total hydropower export of 941 MW from Nepal to India so far. I am confident that power sector cooperation between the two countries will take more heights in the future," she added.

However, it is important to note that as the two nations continue to build on their historical ties and mutual interests, the nearly 1,000 MW of electricity set to flow from Nepal to India marks yet another chapter in their enduring partnership, one that holds promise for greater collaboration in the years to come.