The Economy of Nepal
Hydropower: Nepal's Great Asset
Rivers falling from the Himalaya offer vast hydropower potential, and Nepal now exports electricity to India and even beyond.
Water as an export.
Potential
Estimates run to tens of thousands of megawatts of economically viable capacity.
Progress
Installed capacity has grown quickly, ending regular load-shedding within Nepal.
Exports
Nepal sells surplus power to India in the monsoon season, and to Bangladesh through Indian grids.
Challenges
Delays, high financing costs, landslides and seasonal variation limit output.
A monsoon surplus
In wet months, rivers are full and Nepal has more power than it needs, so it exports to India.
Thinking hydropower is available all year at full capacity
River flows vary seasonally.
Key takeaways
- The potential is huge.
- Load-shedding has ended.
- Power is exported to India.
- Seasonality and delays are issues.
No recording for this one yet - EconReader can read it aloud for you.