Nepal seeks to import power from India after flood devastation, asks for early approvals

In the wake of the devastating flash flood that severely impacted Nepal’s power infrastructure, Kathmandu has asked India to give the requisite approvals for the transmission of electricity to Nepal earlier than usual, senior officials in the Union Power Ministry said on Saturday (August 29, 2026).

“Nepal has asked that India advance import approvals, starting from September this year, in view of the generation deficits caused by this disaster. The concerned authorities are processing the requests,” an official said. According to officials, India is willing to provide any additional power that Nepal may need.

Nepal usually imports electricity from India during the winter months, starting around October, as power generation is typically low in the Himalayan country during the freezing winter months. Conversely, the country exports its excess hydropower to India during the summer. According to official data, India imported 3,299 million units (MUs) of power from Nepal in fiscal year 2025-26 and exported 1,451 MUs to it.

Transmission of electricity across India’s borders requires mandatory clearances from the Central Electricity Authority (CEA).

India ‘capable of absorbing shortfall’

According to an internal assessment, Nepal’s electricity generation capacity has declined by about 550 megawatts because of the infrastructural damage induced by the flood.

Officials said that this resulted in the cross-border power flow to India reducing by approximately 400 MW from earlier peaks of 950 MW to 1,000 MW. However, the officials assured that India was not foreseeing any requirement to make alternative arrangements to compensate for the shortfall.

“We do not foresee any requirement for exceptional emergency procurement or alternative arrangement to balance domestic demand,” an official said, adding, “India’s vast national grid capacity and robust generation reserve margins are capable of absorbing a temporary shortfall of 400 MW seamlessly without disrupting grid stability or retail supply.”

The flash flood in the Nepal-Tibet border regions has killed about 675 people, authorities in Nepal said on Saturday. The country’s meteorology department has, meanwhile, warned of fresh rainfall and thunderstorms in the affected areas.