Nepal’s Plan to Export Electricity to Bangladesh and India: Updates from Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli
Kathmandu [Nepal], August 22: Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli announced that a power trade agreement between Nepal and Bangladesh has been paused due to political changes in Bangladesh. The agreement, which involves exporting 40 Mega Watts of electricity through India, was initially set to be signed in July 2024.
Prime Minister Oli explained that the agreement was to be signed in Kathmandu in the presence of energy ministers from Nepal, India, and Bangladesh. However, the recent political turmoil in Bangladesh, which led to the formation of a new interim government under Nobel laureate Mohammad Yunus, caused the delay.
Oli assured that efforts are underway to finalize the deal as soon as possible. He emphasized that this agreement would mark a significant milestone in sub-regional energy cooperation in South Asia, as it would be the first time Nepal exports electricity to Bangladesh.
Additionally, Oli discussed a long-term plan to export 10,000 Mega Watts of electricity to India within the next decade. The Ministry of Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation of Nepal has drafted an ‘Energy Development Roadmap and Action Plan-2080,’ aiming to export 13,500 Mega Watts of electricity to address domestic demand and export about 15,000 Mega Watts to neighboring countries by the fiscal year 2034-35.
Currently, Nepal’s total electricity generation capacity stands at around 3,240 Mega Watts, but it is expected to reach 28,500 Mega Watts by 2034-35.
Doubts Revealed
Nepal -: Nepal is a country located in South Asia, between India and China. It is known for its beautiful mountains, including Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli -: KP Sharma Oli is a political leader in Nepal. He has served as the Prime Minister of Nepal, which means he is the head of the government in the country.
Electricity Export -: Exporting electricity means sending electricity from one country to another. In this case, Nepal wants to send electricity to Bangladesh and India.
Bangladesh -: Bangladesh is a country in South Asia, located to the east of India. It is known for its rich culture and history.
Power Trade Agreement -: A power trade agreement is a deal between countries to buy and sell electricity. Nepal and Bangladesh were planning to make such a deal.
40 MW -: MW stands for megawatt, which is a unit of power. 40 MW is a measure of how much electricity Nepal was planning to send to Bangladesh.
Interim Government -: An interim government is a temporary government set up until a new, permanent government is formed. Bangladesh has a new interim government right now.
10,000 MW -: 10,000 MW is a very large amount of electricity. Nepal plans to send this much electricity to India over the next ten years.