Lok Sabha Question No. 55 (STARRED), answered on 2025-02-06
Subject: Amendment in the Power Export Rules
Ministry: POWER
Asked by: Shri Manish Tewari

THE MINISTER OF POWER

(SHRI MANOHAR LAL)

(a) to (d) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF POWER

LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.55 ANSWERED ON 06.02.2025

AMENDMENT IN THE POWER EXPORT RULES

*55.   SHRI MANISH TEWARI:

Will the Minister of POWER be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Union Government has recently amended the power export rules and if so, the details thereof;

(b) the  reasons  and  justifications  with  the  Government  for  amending  the rules in haste and the manner in which the urgency was assessed;

(c) the details of power plants currently operational in the country that are selling their entire power output to neighbouring countries; and

(d) the  manner  in  which  the  Government  justify  that  power  plants  in  the country would get benefit from these amendments?

A N S W E R

## STATEMENT

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) IN RESPECT OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.55 FOR REPLY ON 06.02.2025 REGARDING  AMENDMENT  IN  THE  POWER  EXPORT  RULES  ASKED  BY SHRI MANISH TEWARI.

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(a) & (b): Government of India has issued Guidelines for Import/Export (Cross  Border)  of  Electricity  in  December  2018,  inter-alia,  to  facilitate import/export  of  electricity  with  neighbouring  countries,  evolve  robust electricity infrastructure and promote  transparent, consistent, and predictable  regulatory  mechanism.    These  guidelines, inter-alia,  allow Indian  Generating  Stations  to  build  dedicated  transmission  lines  for connecting to the transmission system of neighbouring countries.

India  is  strengthening  cross-border  electricity  interconnections with its neighbouring countries under the One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG) initiative, aimed at reducing reserve requirements, lowering electricity costs, and supporting energy transition.  Starting in July 2023, the Government noted instances of defaults, including delayed payments to Indian generating stations supplying power to neighbouring countries, which, if unresolved, could potentially impact lenders.

Consequently, after careful consideration of the matter, the Government  in  August  2024,  made  the  following  amendments  to  the aforementioned Guidelines:

- (i) In  case  of  sustained  non-scheduling  of  full/part  capacity  or defaults,  including  delayed  payments,  the  Government  may permit such generating stations to be connected to the Indian Grid.
- (ii) Electricity generated from coal, gas, hydro, or renewable energy can be exported to neighbouring countries.  The source of fuel may  now  also  be  specified. Additionally, electricity  from collective  transactions  through  power  exchanges  can  now  be exported.

.........2.

(c): Power is being exported to neighbouring countries of Bangladesh, Bhutan,  Myanmar  and  Nepal  under  the  aforementioned  Guidelines. These exports include, inter-alia, the following:

- (i) Bangladesh  is  supplied  entire  power  from  Godda  Ultra  Super Critical Thermal Power Plant Jharkhand (1496 MW).
- (ii) Sembcorp Energy India Limited Project Andhra Pradesh (450 MW), Damodar Valley Corporation (300 MW) and NTPC stations (250 MW) supply power to Bangladesh.

(iii)   Power is also regularly exported to Nepal (up to 1004 MW), Bhutan (up to 1150 MW) and Myanmar (3 MW).

(d) :  These amendments aim to enhance transparency, consistency, and predictability in the regulatory framework, and provide greater flexibility for generating companies seeking to trade electricity with neighbouring countries.    In  addition  to  strengthening  cross-border  interconnectivity, they will help meet domestic demand during periods of  low demand in neighbouring  countries,  benefiting  domestic  consumers  and  optimising resource utilisation.

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