April 7: After negotiations for a long time, India has finally agreed to allow Nepal to export 325 megawatts of electricity to the Indian market on competitive rates.    
Given the approval from the Central Electricity Authority of India, Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) would export additional 325 MW of hydroelectricity into the Indian energy market. Prior to this, in November 2021, India had given approval for the export of 39 MW of power generated in Nuwakot district in the Indian Energy Exchange market.    
In the second phase, Nepal has received approval to export 325 MW hydroelectricity power produced from Kaligandaki ‘A’ (144 MW), Mid-Marsyangdi (68 MW), Marsyangdi (67 MW) and Likhu-IV (51 MW), Executive Director of NEA Kulman Ghising said.    
With this, the NEA has got approval to export electricity produced by six hydropower projects to India. The surplus power would be exported via Dhalkebar-Mujjafarpur 400 KV cross-border transmission line.    
Organising a news conference at the Ministry of Energy on Wednesday, Minister for Energy Pampha Bhusal said the export of surplus power to India would help make positive contribution to economy by reducing Nepal’s trade deficit. Bhusal said India’s decision to purchase Nepal’s surplus power is a positive step. “We are in need of a big market. From this, additional market has now been expanded,” she said. -- RSS