India’s electricity demand is projected to more than double over the next decade, but its rapid expansion of solar, wind, storage and nuclear power means Nepal cannot assume it will remain a captive market for its hydropower.

The first 600 kg shipment is part of a deal to export at least 50,000 kg of ghee a year.

A surge in demand after four months of half-filled cylinders has exposed deeper weaknesses in Nepal’s LPG supply chain, from storage and transport to cylinder management and distribution.

The move gives Nepal Electricity Authority’s subsidiary a foothold in cross-border power trading, even as private companies seeking licences remain locked out pending changes to the legal framework.

Nepal’s cooking gas supply has tightened despite regular imports from India, exposing gaps in domestic distribution and the lack of controls over cylinder stocks.

After a four-year gap, Nepal and India will revisit disputes over water sharing, benefits and investment as they seek to finalise the Pancheshwar DPR.

Weak project preparation, staff shortages and poor implementation continue to hold back capital spending.

Rice, vegetables, eggs and edible oil have become costlier in recent weeks, while an artificial cooking gas shortage has added to household burdens ahead of the festive season.

Federal rules allow local units to manage unused land, while earlier attempts struggled due to regulatory gaps.

Newly-elected IPPAN President Mohan Kumar Dangi emphasises the necessity of power trading rights for private developers, the causes behind the PPA backlog and the strategic roadmaps required to transform Nepal’s energy sector.

Successive governments have delayed signing new agreements since 2022, citing low domestic consumption, inadequate transmission infrastructure and limited export prospects.

Nepal’s power exports jumped as hydropower generation outpaced domestic demand during the monsoon, helping the country record an Rs18.76 billion surplus in electricity trade.

Only 390 of Nepal’s 753 local units have completed mandatory land classification, prompting the federal government to reinstate the suspension on land subdivision for a third time.

Industrial Zone Management Ltd has restored utilities to most defaulters after recovering Rs467 million, but 20 factories remain disconnected across the country’s industrial estates.

Exports cross Rs211 million as homegrown brands reach markets from Italy to Australia, while entrepreneurs transform traditional recipes into commercial ventures.