DHARAN, Sept 25: In an attempt to better manage the daily solid waste generated by the major cities of eastern Nepal, the government has initiated studies to extract alternative energy through technology that uses accumulated waste.
Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC), which is under the Ministry of Environment, has already started a formal study of the possibilities of this project in Dharan, Itahari, Biratnagar, Ilam and Dhankuta.
The government´s efforts received a boost only after the World Bank showed interest in the project.
“Today, when cities are in need of supplementary energy sources, the success of this project can be very vital. For this reason, discussions are in progres regarding the use of technology promoting alternative energy,” said Anupam Bhusal, chairman of AEPC.
In the 16 years since its establishment, AEPC has been promoting renewal energy technology in rural areas. It has installed 270,000 bio-gas facilities in numerous villages.
According to Bhusal, bio-gas created out of solid waste can replace diesel as electricity can be produced from it. Countries like India and Germany have benefited immensely from similar technology, informed Bhusal.
Moreover, the by-product from bio-gas generation can be used as compost fertilizer. “Loads of money being spent on waste management can be saved through application of this technology and the environment will also become cleaner,” said Bhusal.
According to Yam Nath Dahal, a bio-gas technician, this technology should be applied at public toilets, land field sites and slaughter houses. Results have shown that 50 cubic meters of bio-gas and two units of electricity can be produced out of one ton of bio-degradable waste.
Bhusal informed that the problem of waste management is worse in Itahari and Dharan compared to Ilam and Dhankuta.
Source : Republica
