Kathmandu — The duration of electricity import from India has been reduced by one hour. Previously, electricity was being imported for 16 hours, but starting Friday, it will now be imported for only 15 hours, according to the Nepal Electricity Authority.
Starting Friday, electricity can be imported from 6 AM to 5 PM (solar hours) and from 2 AM to 6 AM, according to the Nepal Electricity Authority. India has granted permission to import 600 megawatts of electricity daily for 15 hours through the 400 kV Dhalkebar–Muzaffarpur transmission line.
Previously, permission had been granted to import 54 megawatts of electricity through the Tanakpur–Mahendranagar transmission line. The Nepal Electricity Authority has been importing electricity from India during the winter season due to reduced domestic electricity production.
In the past month of Nov/Dec, when permission was granted to import electricity during the winter, India had allowed 20 hours of daily import until March 16, and from March 17, only solar hours (from 6 AM to 6 PM) were allowed for import.
Since the 15th of March/April, electricity has been imported for 16 hours daily. It was being imported from 6 AM to 5 PM and from 11 PM to 4 AM.
Nepal has been purchasing electricity through competition in the Day-Ahead and Real-Time markets of India’s Indian Energy Exchange Limited (IEX). According to this, bidding takes place the day before the purchase, with price and quantity included.
So far, up to 500 megawatts of electricity has been imported from IEX during the day. Nepal has also been importing electricity through the Nepal-India Power Exchange Committee (PEC).
Source: Kantipur
