PM Oli announces roadmap to export 10,000MW of electricity to India

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has informed lawmakers that the government has prepared a roadmap and work plan to export 10,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity to India.

Responding to queries from lawmakers in Thursday's meeting of the House of Representatives, the Prime Minister stated that the roadmap and work plan, 2080 has been prepared in line with a long-term power trade agreement.

The roadmap indicates that around 13,500MW of electricity will be consumed domestically, with approximately 15,000MW exported to India and Bangladesh by the fiscal year 2034/35.

PM Oli further mentioned that the government plans to increase Nepal’s total power production capacity to 28,000MW by that time. The roadmap and work plan have already been presented to the Council of Ministers.

Currently, Nepal’s power production capacity is around 3,240MW.

PM Oli provided additional details on the ongoing process of power exports and projections of power production. Various high-voltage inter-state transmission lines are being developed to facilitate the power trade of up to 10,000MW with India over the next 10 years.

The hydropower projects promoted by India in Nepal are estimated to produce 3,679MW of electricity. Similarly, projects currently under the agreement are expected to produce 5,648MW of electricity. Mega projects under government ownership, for which feasibility studies have been conducted, are projected to produce 4,431MW of electricity.

“The first Nepal-India interstate transmission line, the 400kV Dhalkebar-Muzaffarpur line, has been operational since 2016. The Arun-III Hydropower project is being promoted by an Indian company, while the 400kV Dhalkebar-Sitamarhi interstate electricity transmission line is expected to be completed within this year,” he said.

The Prime Minister also discussed other under-construction power projects, including the 400kV Butwal-Gorakhpur transmission line with a capacity of 2,500MW, and those under implementation, such as the 400kV Inaruwa-Purnia transmission line with a capacity of 2,500MW, and Lamki-Bareilly.

“Nepal’s internal power transmission system needs to be robust and capable of ensuring the export of 10,000MW of power to India via Nepal-India interstate power transmission lines,” he emphasised. The Hetauda-Dhalkebar-Inaruwa 400kV transmission line is in its final stage. The construction of the 400kV Lapsiphedi-Ratmate-New Hetauda and Ratmate-New Damauli-New Butwal electricity transmission lines will begin soon.

PM Oli also shared information about other electricity production projects, including the 400kV Khimti-Bahrabise-Kathmandu, the 220kV Marsyangdi corridor, and the 220kV Chilime-Trishuli lines.

“The power trade agreement between Nepal and Bangladesh was scheduled to be signed on 28th July but was postponed at the last minute due to recent unrest in Bangladesh,” PM Oli informed.

In light of the formation of an interim government in Bangladesh, the Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation are taking initiatives to sign the agreement at the earliest, PM Oli added.

Nepal will export 40MW of electricity to Bangladesh in the first phase.

By RSS