Nepal Exports Its First Megawatts of Electricity to Bangladesh

Nepal, through the Indian grid, has started delivering its first megawatts to Bangladesh, officially becoming an energy exporter during the monsoon season, in line with a recent tripartite agreement signed with its neighbors.

Share:

Comprehensive energy news coverage, updated nonstop

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access • Archives included • Professional invoice

OTHER ACCESS OPTIONS

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

FREE ACCOUNT

3 articles offered per month

FREE

*Prices are excluding VAT, which may vary depending on your location or professional status

Since 2021: 35,000 articles • 150+ analyses per week

Nepal has officially commenced electricity deliveries to Bangladesh, marking a strategic milestone in its ambition to become a regional energy exporter. The electricity supply is routed via the Indian grid, materializing a tripartite agreement signed last October between Nepal, Bangladesh, and India. According to Rajan Dhakal, spokesperson for the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), the Himalayan nation will initially supply 40 megawatts (MW), exclusively targeting the Bangladeshi market. The delivery period will span the entire rainy season, from mid-June to mid-November.

A New Energy Dimension

This initiative represents Nepal’s first significant entry into the international electricity market, following limited exports to India in 2021. According to Dipak Khadka, Nepal’s Minister of Energy, these initial deliveries reflect Nepal’s commitment to enhancing regional energy stability. Nepal, which has long faced significant challenges regarding electricity access, has significantly upgraded its infrastructure through the construction of hydroelectric plants. Today, national production exceeds 3,500 MW, ensuring nearly full electricity coverage for its approximately 30 million inhabitants.

Considerable Energy Potential

Nepal holds a theoretical hydropower potential of 72,000 MW, according to recent studies. This figure highlights the country’s untapped capabilities, although development often encounters environmental cost-related issues, frequently raised by non-governmental organizations. Currently, the production capacity exceeds domestic consumption during the monsoon period, paving the way for export opportunities.

Bangladesh Faces Growing Energy Demands

For Bangladesh, this agreement addresses increasing energy challenges stemming from insufficient domestic production, largely dependent on fossil fuels. With a population approaching 170 million, Bangladesh’s energy demand significantly surpasses its current production capabilities. Importing electricity from Nepal contributes to bridging part of this energy deficit, simultaneously diversifying supply sources.

The tripartite partnership, which also involves the Indian company NVVN, establishes a model of cross-border cooperation in South Asia. This framework allows all three countries to leverage Nepal’s seasonal electricity surplus while addressing Bangladesh’s immediate energy needs. The current agreement provides continuous deliveries during the rainy season, a period when Nepal’s hydroelectric capacity reaches its peak.

Jordan can export electricity if three conditions align: fuel availability for its power plants, measurable system surplus, and a functional transit framework via Syria to Lebanon with clear metering and settlement rules.
The Egyptian government and UAE-based K&K have signed an agreement to finalise studies for an electricity interconnection project linking Egypt to Europe via Italy.
AEP Transmission will finance the upgrade of high-voltage lines across five states through a federal loan, aiming to meet a sharp rise in industrial electricity demand.
Israeli company Prisma Photonics has raised $30mn in a funding round led by Protego Ventures to develop its artificial intelligence-based detection system for power grids and critical infrastructure.
A report estimates $2.3 billion in avoidable economic losses by 2040 if Southeast Asia strengthens its electricity infrastructure through smart grids.
The New Providence power grid modernisation project is progressing 28% faster than expected, with Bahamas Grid Company reporting measurable gains in service quality and network reliability.
The Seine-Maritime prefecture denies Aquind access to public maritime domain, halting a €1.4bn ($1.47bn) Franco-British power interconnection project.
A €12mn technical grant will support STEG in supervising ELMED, the first submarine power cable between Tunisia and Italy, a strategic project co-developed with Italy’s TERNA and valued at €921mn.
The blackout that hit the Iberian Peninsula in April originated from a series of unprecedented surges. The European report points to a sequence of technical failures but does not yet identify a primary cause.
The 600MW submarine interconnection between Tunisia and Italy enters its construction phase, marking a logistical and financial milestone for the Euro-Mediterranean electricity market.
Ukrenergo plans to raise electricity transmission tariffs by 20% in 2026 to cover technical costs and obligations tied to international loans.
The ASEAN Power Grid enters a strategic phase with renewed support from regional and international institutions to structure electricity trade among member states and secure the necessary investments.
The three countries will hold a meeting in October to unlock interconnector projects, following a major blackout that exposed the fragility of the Iberian Peninsula’s electricity integration.
Up to 55% of Europe’s electricity system remains vulnerable due to weak interconnection capacity, increasing the risk of widespread outages in several countries, according to a new report.
The European Commission allocates EUR76.3mn ($80.63mn) to three projects aiming to strengthen energy interconnections between Member States, focusing on onshore and offshore wind power and decarbonised district heating.
The SuedLink underground cable project, estimated at €10bn ($10.66bn), enters an active phase with the launch of two additional sections in Hesse and Lower Saxony.
French group Vinci, through its subsidiary Cobra IS, will electrify 870 kilometres of rail tracks across the Baltic States as part of the Rail Baltica project, in a deal worth €885mn ($944mn).
The United States is funding a new high-voltage line to integrate Moldova into the European electricity market, following the cutoff of supplies from the separatist Transnistria region.
French group Nexans has begun installing a high-voltage submarine cable between Sardinia and Sicily, reaching an unprecedented depth of 2,150 metres as part of a project led by Italian grid operator Terna.
Danish manufacturer NKT has been chosen to supply a 525 kV high-voltage cable system for the Eastern Green Link 3 project connecting Scotland and England’s power grids.

All the latest energy news, all the time

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access - Archives included - Pro invoice

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

*Prices shown are exclusive of VAT, which may vary according to your location or professional status.

Since 2021: 30,000 articles - +150 analyses/week.