India steps in with emergency power exports to flood-hit Nepal
India has approved sending up to 654 megawatts of electricity daily to Nepal until the end of December, following floods that severely damaged the country's hydropower infrastructure. The floods, triggered by a glacial collapse, killed more than 1,400 people and left thousands missing. Nepal, which previously exported surplus power, now faces acute shortages and is relying on imports.
The emergency export deal, approved by India’s Ministry of Power, will run for 18 hours daily through December 31, with a review scheduled for January. The floods, caused by a glacial collapse on August 26, destroyed at least 12 hydropower projects in Nepal, leaving over 5,500 people missing, including 900 plant workers. Before the disaster, Nepal met nearly all its energy needs through hydropower and had been exporting surplus to India.
The country now faces acute shortages, forcing it to import power it once sold. The United Nations is seeking nearly $50 million for immediate aid, while Nepali officials estimate at least $5 billion is needed for initial reconstruction. The disaster underscores the region’s vulnerability, as a recent study warns Himalayan glaciers are melting faster than a decade ago, threatening water security and approaching “peak water” by mid-century.
This emergency power transfer could temporarily stabilize Nepal’s grid, but it also highlights a deeper dependency shift—from exporter to importer—that may persist beyond December if reconstruction lags. Flood survivors, already displaced, may face prolonged uncertainty as rebuilding competes with climate-driven risks. The arrangement could also set a precedent for regional energy cooperation during climate disasters, though its long-term impact depends on how quickly Nepal’s hydropower infrastructure is restored and whether such crises become more frequent.