Hydropower capacity hit after floods, Nepal seeks advance power imports from India

Hydropower capacity hit after floods, Nepal seeks advance power imports from India The request is being processed under an existing framework for considering such cross-border power supply arrangements, with Indian authorities working to facilitate extra electricity to Nepal as required, Indian administration.

Key points

• 4 min read New Delhi Aug 30, 2026 04: 28 AM IST.
• Nepal army personnel against the backdrop of a rescue and search operation after flash floods, at the Army Training Centre in Nuwakot, Nepal, Thursday, Aug.
• Individuals try to enter a safer place after flash floods, at the Devighat in Bidur, Nuwakot, Nepal, Thursday, Aug.
• According to some assessments available with Indian authorities, Nepal's domestic power generation capacity has fallen by around 550 megawatts (MW) after damage to hydropower facilities.
• Hydropower accounts for the bulk of Nepal's total installed electricity generation capacity of around 4, 300 MW.

For context, the spot where the Trishuli Hydropower Station once stood in Nuwakot district. The project was developed jointly by the governments of India and Nepal. (Photo: Tashi Tobgyal).

For context, the Nepal administration has sought advance approvals to import electricity from India from September to mitigate a generation shortfall caused by the recent disaster, The Indian Express has learnt.

Electricity trade between Nepal and India is seasonal, with Nepal exporting surplus power to India during the monsoon and importing electricity during the dry winter months when domestic hydropower generation declines. Usually, Nepal makes such requests for electricity imports from India around October. This year, nevertheless, the request has come earlier after flash floods damaged the country's power generation capacity, Indian administration authorities remarked.

In practice, the request is being processed under an existing framework for considering such cross-border power supply arrangements, with Indian authorities working to facilitate extra electricity to Nepal as required, Indian administration authorities aware of the matter remarked.

Hydel plant in Nepal feeding power to India among a number of units hit by flash floods.

According to some assessments available with Indian authorities, Nepal's domestic power generation capacity has fallen by around 550 megawatts (MW) after damage to hydropower facilities. Consequently, cross-border power flow to India is at present reduced by approximately 400 MW from previous peak export levels of around 900-1, 000 MW, the Indian administration authorities remarked.

Nevertheless, the office-holders noted the shortfall is temporary and does not warrant any exceptional emergency procurement or alternative arrangements to meet India's domestic demand. India has sufficient reserve capacity to absorb the reduction in imports from Nepal and ramp up generation as required, without affecting grid stability or domestic electricity supply, the official continued.

Individuals try to enter a safer place after flash floods, at the Devighat in Bidur, Nuwakot, Nepal, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. The death toll from the devastating flash floods surged to 359 on Thursday. (PTI Photo) Queries sent to Nepal Embassy in India and the Power Ministry did not elicit any response.

As well as a solar power plant, Nepal's Energy Ministry stated in an earlier statement, the floods affected 13 hydropower plants, including a number of under-construction projects.

At least one hydropower plant – 14-MW Devighat hydropower plant – that supplies electricity to India was among the power plants affected by the floods, The Indian Express had earlier documented.

According to the Nepal administration, operational power plants with total capacity of 236 MW and three under-construction major hydropower projects with total capacity of 342.42 MW have been affected in Rasuwa district.

Nepal army personnel against the backdrop of a rescue and search operation after flash floods, at the Army Training Centre in Nuwakot, Nepal, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. The death toll from the devastating flash floods surged to 359 on Thursday. (PTI Photo) The affected projects include Upper Trishuli-1 (216 MW), Rasuwagadhi (111 MW), Rasuwa Bhotekoshi (120 MW), Sanjen Khola (78 MW), Upper Mailung A (6.42 MW), Mailung Khola (5 MW), Laidang Khola (20 MW), and Chilime (22 MW).

In Nuwakot district, four operational power plants with a total capacity of 123 MW and two under-construction power projects with a total capacity of 52.6 MW have been affected.

These projects include the Trishuli Hydropower Project (24 MW), Devighat Hydropower Project (14.1 MW), Upper Trishuli-3A (60 MW), Upper Trishuli-3B (37 MW), Middle Trishuli Ganga (15.6 MW), and a 25 MW capacity solar project.

Taken together, the developments around hydropower capacity hit after floods, Nepal seeks advance power imports from India point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.