India will provide Nepal with an 18-hour daily electricity supply through December 31, following approval of an extended power arrangement.
The move comes after severe flooding disrupted parts of Nepal’s domestic power generation and distribution infrastructure.
India and Nepal have long maintained a cross-border electricity trade framework, with supply flowing between the two countries based on demand.
Nepal’s hydropower-reliant grid is particularly vulnerable during severe monsoon flooding, which can take river-based facilities offline.
The new supply level marks a substantial increase over Nepal’s typical cross-border power imports.
India has periodically extended similar emergency power support to neighbouring countries during natural disasters affecting their domestic electricity infrastructure.
The move comes amid broader efforts by India to strengthen its regional standing through infrastructure and energy cooperation with South Asian neighbours.
The extended power supply is intended to help Nepal manage electricity demand after recent severe flooding disrupted parts of its domestic generation and distribution infrastructure.
India and Nepal have an existing framework for cross-border electricity trade, with power flowing both ways depending on seasonal demand and generation capacity in each country.
The enhanced supply arrangement is set to remain in effect through December 31, covering peak periods of electricity demand in Nepal.
Cross-border power supply agreements between India and Nepal have expanded significantly in recent years as part of broader regional energy cooperation.
Nepal’s hydropower-dependent grid can be particularly vulnerable to disruption during severe monsoon flooding, when river-based generation facilities may be damaged or forced offline.
India’s power ministry coordinates cross-border electricity supply arrangements with neighbouring countries through mechanisms that account for both grid capacity and diplomatic considerations.
The 18-hour daily supply figure represents a significant increase over Nepal’s typical cross-border import levels during non-emergency periods.
Officials have not specified the exact quantum of additional power being supplied, though the arrangement is described as a direct response to the flooding-related shortfall.
High voltage power transmission line, India, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
