India to Supply Nepal with Daily Electricity After Flood Damage

India has announced it will export up to 654 megawatts of electricity daily to Nepal to help address urgent power shortages caused by severe flooding. The floods, which occurred last month, caused extensive damage to Nepal's hydropower infrastructure.

In a statement issued on Monday by India's Ministry of Power, the electricity will be provided for 18 hours each day and will continue until December 31. This initiative aims to assist Nepal in overcoming its current power needs and aims to enhance the enduring energy partnership between the two neighbouring countries.

Moreover, the Ministry noted that discussions will take place in December regarding the quantity of electricity to be exported from January onwards.

The flooding was triggered by a glacial collapse along the China-Nepal border on August 26, resulting in the deaths of over 1,400 individuals in both Nepal and Tibet. At least 12 hydropower projects in Nepal were severely impacted, contributing to the ongoing crisis. Currently, more than 5,500 people remain unaccounted for in Nepal, including approximately 900 workers associated with power stations.

Prior to the floods, hydropower met almost all of Nepal's energy requirements, and the nation was in a position to export surplus electricity to India. However, the recent disaster has forced Nepal to revert to importing electricity.

In the wake of the floods, thousands of individuals have found temporary shelter in aid centres, facing an uncertain future. The United Nations and its partners are currently appealing for nearly $50 million to assist survivors of the disaster.

Additionally, Nepali officials estimate that approximately $5 billion is needed for initial rebuilding efforts, highlighting the severe impact climate change is having on vulnerable nations that contribute little to its causes. A recent study indicated that glaciers in the Himalayas are melting at an accelerated pace compared to a decade ago, jeopardising water security in a region predicted to reach its peak water availability by the mid-century.

Given the critical situation that Nepal finds itself in post-flood, India's proactive response underscores the importance of regional cooperation in addressing shared challenges, particularly in the energy sector.