Nepal plans to import up to 1.1 gigawatts of electricity from India during the coming dry season, after floods and landslides knocked out a large chunk of its hydropower capacity. The Nepal Electricity Authority is drawing up a work plan for the December to May 2027 period, when river flows fall and demand peaks.

NEA spokesperson Rajan Dhakal said the country has about 3.74 GW of generation capacity in operation, but weather disasters have caused heavy damage. The August 26 Bhotekoshi flash floods destroyed about 450 MW of capacity, while heavy rain from September 24 to 27 damaged the 190 MW Kaligandaki project. Together, the losses total around 640 MW.

Despite the damage, Nepal is currently exporting 600 to 700 MW of surplus power to India during the wet months. Dhakal said imports will be needed after November, with demand peaking between February and May.

Nepal’s executive director Dirghayu Kumar Shrestha said the import plan, including 600 MW via the Dhalkebar-Muzaffarpur line, would be enough to avoid load shedding.