Nepal begins 38MW hydropower export to Bangladesh

Nepal has officially started exporting 38 megawatts (MW) of hydropower to Bangladesh through India. Under the agreement, Bangladesh is set to receive a total of 40MW of electricity from Nepal during the period from 15 June to 15 November. The agreed price, including the transmission charges through India, will be approximately Tk7 per unit.

Bangladesh's Adviser to the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, confirmed that all preparations for the import had been completed. "We will be receiving electricity from Nepal for five months, starting from 15 June until 15 November," he said.
Officials from the ministry also indicated that Bangladesh is exploring the possibility of exporting electricity to Nepal during the winter season. Nepal typically faces electricity shortages in winter due to decreased hydropower generation caused by snow-fed rivers running dry.
As electricity consumption in Bangladesh drops in winter, policymakers believe this reciprocal arrangement could help establish a balanced electricity trade between the two nations.
The power export arrangement was formalised on 3 October 2024 through a tripartite agreement signed in Kathmandu by Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), and NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Limited (NVVN) of India, which facilitates the transmission of power through Indian territory.