India Boosts Power Imports from Nepal to 1,000 MW in Landmark Deal During Nepal FM’s Visit

India has agreed to buy an extra 251 MW of electricity from Nepal, bringing the total power imports from the Himalayan nation to 1,000 MW. This decision was made during talks between Nepalese Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba and India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

Jaishankar expressed his satisfaction with the meeting on social media, saying, “Happy to welcome FM Arzu Rana Deuba of Nepal on her first official visit abroad. We discussed the wide-ranging cooperation between India and Nepal in energy, trade, connectivity, and infrastructure. It’s great that Nepal will soon be exporting nearly 1,000 MW of electricity to India, marking a new milestone. Our strong neighborhood ties and deep cultural connections are driving our relationship forward.”

The Indian Embassy in Nepal confirmed that India’s Designated Authority for Cross-Border Trade approved the additional 251 MW of power exports from 12 hydropower projects in Nepal. With this approval, Nepal will now be exporting 941 MW of hydropower from 28 projects, up from 690 MW from 16 projects previously.

Foreign Minister Deuba described the discussions as “productive” and expressed confidence that the visit would further strengthen the longstanding bond between Nepal and India. During her visit, she also met with India’s Prime Minister. This visit follows a recent trip to Kathmandu by India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, where both sides celebrated the progress made in the power and connectivity sectors in recent years.