Bhotekoshi floods halt Nepal’s electricity exports to Bangladesh

The monsoon usually gives Nepal more electricity than it can consume. This year, swollen rivers have instead disrupted generation and brought exports to Bangladesh effectively to a halt.

A flood that swept through the Bhotekoshi river system on August 26 damaged the 22.1 MW Chilime Hydropower Project and the 24 MW Trishuli Hydropower Project. Both have stopped generating electricity. They were authorised to supply power to Bangladesh through India, with Nepal receiving payment in US dollars.

“Both projects supplying electricity to Bangladesh have been damaged, so we have asked India to allow electricity from another project to be sent as an alternative,” said Dirghayu Kumar Shrestha, acting managing director of the Nepal Electricity Authority. “At present, electricity exports to Bangladesh are effectively at zero.”

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Both projects supplying electricity to Bangladesh have been damaged, so we have asked India to allow electricity from another project to be sent as an alternative.

The damage has spread beyond those projects. Generation has stopped at 12 hydropower plants, while the Sanjen, Upper Sanjen and Salasungi projects remain in “isolated mode” after damage to their transmission lines. They are producing only enough power for nearby areas, outside the national grid.

The floods are not the only constraint on exports. Nepal also cannot send 73.75 MW from the Upper Chameliya, Seti River and Upper Tadi Khola projects to India because their export approvals have expired and remain unrenewed. The approvals must be renewed annually by India’s Central Electricity Authority, the designated body for approving electricity imports and exports.

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At present, electricity exports to Bangladesh are effectively at zero.