Central Electricity Authority said India has turned around from a net importer of electricity to net exporter of electricity during April 2016 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.
Ever since the cross border trade of electricity started in mid-80s, 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. Bhutan has been supplying around 5,000- 5500 Million units to India.
India had been exporting around 190 MW power to Nepal over 12 cross border interconnections at 11kV, 33kV and 132 kV level. The export of power to Nepal further increased by around 145 MW with commissioning of Muzaffarpur (India) – Dhalkhebar (Nepal) 400kV line (being operated at 132 kV) in 2016.
Export of power to Bangladesh from India got boost with commissioning of border Interconnection between Baharampur in India and Bheramara in Bangladesh at 400kV in September 2013. It was further augmented by commissioning of 2nd cross border Interconnection between Surjyamaninagar (Tripura) in India and South Comilla in Bangladesh. At present around 600 MW power is being exported to Bangladesh.
Export of power to Nepal is expected to increase by around 145 MW shortly over 132 kV Katiya (Bihar) – Kusaha (Nepal) and 132 kV Raxaul (Bihar) – Parwanipur (Nepal).
A few more cross border links with neighbouring countries are in pipe line which would further increase export of Power.