India has turned around from a net importer of electricity to net exporter of electricity.
India has achieved a new milestone in power sector by becoming a net exporter of electricity by cross-border trade, as net electricity exported outshines net electricity imports during FY17, according to Central Electricity Authority report.
Central Electricity Authority (CEA) governing body for monitoring power generation, transmission and usage in the country, stated that India has exported 5798 MU (Million Units) of electricity to Nepal, Myanmar and Bangladesh during Apr’16-Feb’17 which is 213 MU more than the 5585 MU imported from Bhutan during the same period.
Moreover, Exports of electricity to Nepal and Bangladesh has increased by 2.5 and 2.8 times respectively in the last three years.
Cross Border Electricity Transmission among Neighboring Countries:
India has been importing electricity from Bhutan since the beginning of cross-border trade in the last century and exports modest electricity to Nepal in 33 kV and 132 kV radial modes from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Bhutan has been supplying 5000-5500 MU electricity to India every year on an average basis.
Electricity Exports to Nepal:
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 the commissioning of Muzaffarpur (India) – Dhalkhebar (Nepal) 400kV line, which was being operated at 132 kV in 2016.
Export of power to Nepal is expected to further increase by around 145 MW shortly after commissioning of 132 kV line over Katiya (Bihar) – Kusaha (Nepal) and 132 kV line between Raxaul (Bihar) – Parwanipur (Nepal).
Electricity Exports to Bangladesh:
Likewise, Export of power to Bangladesh from India got further boost with commissioning of 1st cross-border Interconnection between Baharampur in India and Bheramara in Bangladesh at 400kV transmission line 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.
A few more cross-border links with neighbouring countries are in pipeline which would further increase export of Power.
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