India to supply Nepal electricity after floods wrecked hydropower projects
India has approved rapid electricity exports to Nepal, allowing up to 654 megawatts to be transmitted for 18 hours a day through December 31 to help address shortages after destructive glacial floods. The move follows an August 26 glacier collapse on the China-Nepal border that damaged multiple hydropower facilities and caused heavy loss of life and many missing people.
Why It Matters
The supply arrangement provides immediate relief to Nepal’s power deficit and underscores the two countries' energy cooperation, while highlighting Nepal’s vulnerability from near-total reliance on hydropower amid climate-driven glacier changes.
Key Facts
- Amount of power: Up to 654 megawatts
- Daily transmission window: 18 hours per day
- Duration of approval: Until December 31 (review of January exports planned in December)
- Trigger event date: August 26 (glacial mountain collapse on the China-Nepal border)
- Death toll: More than 1,400 people in Nepal and Tibet
India’s Ministry of Power has authorized expedited electricity exports to Nepal, allowing up to 654 megawatts to be delivered for 18 hours each day through the end of December. The ministry said the arrangement aims to help Nepal cope with urgent power shortfalls caused by extensive damage to its hydropower infrastructure.
Nepal’s electricity system was heavily reliant on hydropower before the disaster, meeting nearly all domestic demand and historically exporting surplus generation to India. The glacial collapse on August 26 caused widespread destruction of at least 12 hydropower projects, forced Nepal to start importing electricity, and left thousands displaced and seeking shelter in aid centres.
Authorities report more than 1,400 people killed across Nepal and Tibet, with over 5,500 still missing in Nepal and at least 900 of those listed as missing being power station workers. Nepali officials have estimated initial rebuilding needs at about $5 billion, while the United Nations and partners have launched an appeal for nearly $50 million to support survivors.
The disaster has also drawn attention to longer-term risks: a recent study cited by officials warns that the Himalayas are losing ice faster than a decade ago and could reach “peak water” by mid-century, intensifying concerns over future water and energy security in the region.
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