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India has turned from a net importer of electricity to a net exporter for the first time, according to the Central Electricity Authority.
According to an official statement, “During the current year 2016-17 (April to February 2017), India has exported around 5,798 million units to Nepal, Bangladesh, and Myanmar, which is 213 million units more than the import of around 5,585 million units from Bhutan. Export to Nepal and Bangladesh increased 2.5 and 2.8 times respectively in last three years.”
India has been importing power from Bhutan and marginally exporting to Nepal in radial mode at 33 kV and 132 kV from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
On an average Bhutan has been supplying 5,000-5,500 million units to India since cross-border trade of electricity started in the mid-1980s.
India had also been exporting around 190 MW to Nepal over 12 cross-border inter-connections at 11kV, 33kV and 132 kV levels.
The export of power to Nepal further increased by around 145 MW with the commissioning of the Muzaffarpur (India)-Dhalkhebar (Nepal) 400 kV line (operated at 132 kV) in 2016.
Export of power to Bangladesh got a boost with the commissioning of the first cross- border inter-connection between Baharampur (India) and Bheramara (Bangladesh) at 400 kV in September 2013. It was further augmented by commissioning of the second cross-border Interconnection between Surjyamaninagar (Tripura) in India and South Comilla in Bangladesh.
At present, around 600 MW power is being exported to Bangladesh.
The government expects the export of power to Nepal to increase by around 145 MW shortly over 132 kV Katiya (Bihar)-Kusaha (Nepal) and 132 kV Raxaul (Bihar)-Parwanipur (Nepal) lines.
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