Title: Nepal Imports Rs. 10.55 Billion Worth of Electricity from India in FY 2082/83

Nepal imported electricity worth Rs. 10.55 billion from India during fiscal year 2082/83 to meet domestic power demand during the dry season. Speaking in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Biraj Bhakta Shrestha said the electricity was imported primarily to bridge the supply gap during periods when domestic generation was insufficient. Minister Shrestha explained that most of Nepal’s hydropower projects are run-of-the-river based, resulting in significantly higher electricity generation during the monsoon when water levels in rivers and streams rise. However, generation declines substantially during the dry season as river flows decrease. As a result, domestic production becomes inadequate to meet demand, requiring Nepal to import electricity from India to maintain a reliable power supply. The minister’s statement highlights the seasonal imbalance in Nepal’s power generation, with surplus electricity during the rainy season but a supply shortfall during the dry months. The reliance on electricity imports during the dry season underscores the importance of developing storage-based hydropower projects and strengthening domestic generation capacity to reduce seasonal dependence on imported power.