Kathmandu: Stakeholders have emphasized that biogas technology should be prioritized as a key means to improve rural living standards and achieve energy self-reliance.
At a program organized by the group led by Shiva Prasad Ghimire, Chair of the Land Transport and Transit Committee under the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), discussions were held on the current state of the economy, challenges faced by the private sector, and possible reform measures.
Participants shared their views on the future, challenges, and opportunities of the economy in the new political context, stressing the need to strengthen collaboration between the government and the private sector.
They highlighted that sectors directly linked to water, land, forests, and climate change—particularly biogas technology, which is closely connected to the everyday kitchens of farmers—should be given priority for development and expansion.
Ek Bahadur Thapa noted that biogas technology not only provides clean energy to rural households but also serves as an effective tool for environmental protection, climate change mitigation, and strengthening the rural economy.
So far, around 500,000 biogas plants have been installed in Nepal. Various studies and surveys indicate that there is still significant potential to build approximately 2 million additional biogas plants across the country, offering an opportunity to expand clean, domestically sourced energy in rural areas.
Biogas technology is also directly linked to climate change and carbon trading. He added that the state has already earned millions of rupees through carbon credits by expanding this technology.
He further expressed confidence that the issues and challenges in the biogas sector would be effectively communicated to the concerned authorities under the leadership of Shiva Prasad Guru.
Although the technology has so far been mainly adopted by the middle and upper classes, there is now a need to extend it to remote and highly marginalized communities. For this, there is a demand for the government to increase subsidies for biogas and prioritize the sector in national energy policy.
Currently, the biogas sector provides employment to tens of thousands of people in Nepal. Its expansion would not only create more rural jobs but also help make the country energy self-reliant.
According to him, to strengthen Nepal’s economy and uplift rural livelihoods, the state must move forward by giving special priority to biogas technology.
UrjaSanchar
