Dhalkebar–Muzaffarpur 400 kV Cross-Border Interconnection

Summary

Nepal's first and — at the time of writing — only operational 400 kV cross-border link. Every exported MWh, including the Nepal–Bangladesh Electricity Trade Route allocation, transits this line. It is the linchpin of Nepal's current export strategy.

Key Facts

Significance

• Export artery. Until Gorakhpur–New Butwal 400 kV Cross-Border Interconnection and Inaruwa–Purnea 400 kV Cross-Border Interconnection commission, this is the only 400 kV door out. Roughly 95% of Nepal's 2024–25 export revenue moved through it.
• IEX access. Unlocks the Indian Energy Exchange market — the day-ahead pricing that has made monsoon exports profitable for the first time in Nepal's history.
• Bangladesh corridor. Also the Nepal-side leg of Nepal–Bangladesh Electricity Trade Route, which then transits through India on the Baharampur–Bheramara link.

Limitations & Controversies

• Single point of failure. No 400 kV backup cross-border exists yet. An outage collapses export revenue immediately.
• Indian-side evacuation. Muzaffarpur terminus's onward capacity into India's Eastern Regional Grid is approaching saturation under peak Nepal export scenarios.
• Dispatch veto. Scheduling is set by India's NRLDC — Nepal cannot unilaterally increase flow even when physical capacity exists.

See also

• Hetauda–Dhalkebar–Inaruwa 400 kV Backbone — upstream feeder
• Nepal–Bangladesh Electricity Trade Route
• India — Energy Relationship with Nepal
• Hydro-Geopolitics