Although Bhutan’s hydropower system reached a peak capacity of about 3,600 MW in 2025, current generation has dropped to nearly 1,300 MW, which is insufficient to meet domestic electricity needs. National demand recently peaked at around 1,470 MW, forcing Bhutan to begin importing power from India starting November 21. On November 27 alone, the country imported 1.88 million units (MU) of electricity.
During the ongoing winter season, peak domestic demand is projected to exceed 1,600 MW, a significant rise compared to last winter’s maximum of 1,026 MW. Hydropower output is expected to decline further to between 650 and 700 MW in December and January. To address this shortfall, the Government of India has approved Bhutan’s request to import up to 1,200 MW of electricity.
In the previous winter, Bhutan imported power from November 18, 2024, to April 27, 2025, with total imports amounting to 998.85 MU. On a positive note, overall power generation in 2025, excluding P2 and small projects, has improved compared to 2024. By October, generation reached 10,728 MU in 2025, up from 10,450 MU in 2024. Meanwhile, P2 generated 3,207 MU by October 31, and total output for 2025 is expected to reach 3,600 MU, generating approximately Nu 9,700 million in revenue.