Nepal seeks to import electricity from India sooner after floods, seeks approval
A drone view of the aftermath of flash floods at the confluence of the Trishuli and Tadi rivers in the Devighat area of Nuwakot District, Nepal. | Photo credit: AP
Kathmandu has asked India to grant necessary approvals for electricity transmission to Nepal earlier than usual in the wake of a devastating flash flood that has severely affected Nepal’s power infrastructure, senior Union Power Ministry officials said on Saturday (29 Aug 2026).
“Nepal has requested India to expedite approval of imports from September this year in view of the production deficits caused by this disaster. The relevant authorities are processing the requests,” the official said. According to officials, India is willing to provide any additional energy that Nepal may need.
Nepal usually imports electricity from India during the winter months, starting around October, as the Himalayan country’s electricity production is usually low during the freezing winter months. The country, on the other hand, exports excess hydropower to India during the summer. According to official data, India imported 3,299 million units (MU) of energy from Nepal and exported 1,451 million units (MU) to it in the fiscal year 2025-26.
Transmission of electricity across India’s borders requires, among other things, mandatory clearances from the Central Electricity Authority (CEA).
India ‘capable of absorbing shortage’
According to an internal assessment, Nepal’s power generation capacity has decreased by about 550 megawatts due to infrastructure damage caused by the floods.
Officials said this led to a reduction in cross-border power flow to India by around 400 MW from earlier peaks of 950 MW to 1,000 MW. However, officials assured that India does not anticipate any requirement to implement alternative measures to compensate for this shortfall.
“We do not anticipate any requirement for extraordinary emergency purchases or alternative measures to balance domestic demand,” the official said, adding, “India’s extensive national grid capacity and robust generation reserves are able to seamlessly absorb a temporary outage of 400 MW without disrupting grid stability or retail supply.
A flash flood in the Nepal-Tibet border areas has killed about 675 people, authorities in Nepal said on Saturday. Meanwhile, the country’s meteorological department has warned of fresh rainfall and thunderstorms in the affected areas.
Published – 29 Aug 2026 21:18 IST