Nearly 500 MW Added to National Grid in Six Months, Installed Capacity Reaches 4,086 MW

Kathmandu — Nepal has added nearly 500 megawatts of electricity to its national transmission system over the past six months, significantly boosting the country’s power generation capacity.

According to the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, a total of 495 MW was connected to the national grid by the end of mid-January (Poush), raising Nepal’s overall installed capacity to 4,086 MW.

Ministry data shows that the country’s installed capacity stood at 3,591 MW by the end of mid-July (Ashar). It increased to 4,046 MW by mid-October (Asoj) and continued to expand through mid-January. Power generated from projects under testing and alternative energy sources has not been included in these figures.

Despite the significant rise in production capacity, Nepal continues to import electricity from India during the winter season, as reduced river flow lowers hydropower output. The ministry reports that solar energy currently contributes 62.7 MW, while small and micro-hydropower projects generate 41.16 MW.

Alongside power generation, transmission infrastructure has also expanded. The total length of transmission lines above 66 kV has reached 7,247 circuit kilometers. Substations with a combined capacity of 14,123 MVA have been constructed under this network. Similarly, 33 kV transmission lines now extend over 8,219 circuit kilometers, with substations totaling 3,000 MVA in operation.

The report further states that power leakage has declined to 12.73 percent, reflecting improvements in system efficiency. Per capita electricity consumption has reached 450 units. During the review period, Nepal exported 2,774 gigawatt-hours of electricity while importing 123 gigawatt-hours, according to official data.

Although notable progress has been made in both generation and infrastructure, energy experts note that seasonal imbalance remains a major challenge. Nepal continues to import electricity in winter and export surplus power during the monsoon season. They emphasize that long-term energy security will require greater investment in storage projects, alternative energy sources, and domestic consumption growth.