0924-B3
Ram Chandra Gautam 1
Firewood demand is one of the major reasons for forest destruction. The demand cannot be reduced until the alternatives are provided. Biogas could be a good option for subsistence people in developing country like Nepal. The paper explains the biogas development process in Nepal, and presents how private sector got involved. Case study of a private company is briefed. The case shows how biogas contributed to forest conservation. The experiences could be good lessons for other regions, too.
Over 23 million people live in Nepal, which occupy an area of 147181 square kilometres. More than 90% of the population are involved in agriculture, and per capita income is less than US$ 200. Over 90 percent of the energy requirement is met from forestry and agriculture sectors. About 10 percent is met from other sources such as petroleum and coal, which are all imported. Any development in domestic energy would contribute nation development by reducing import, biogas technology is one of the reliable alternative energy sources used for cooking and lighting. Accordingly, national biogas programme has been considered one of the most successful programme in Nepal.
Father B.R Sauboll, a Belgian teacher at Godavari St. Xavier's school, built first biogas plant in Nepal in 1955. Later in 1968, Khadi and Village Industries Commission built a plant for an exhibition in Kathmandu. Government through Agriculture Department installed about 300 biogas plants in mid-1970s. Based on these experiences, a biogas company (Gobar Gas and Agriculture Equipment Development Company Pvt. Ltd.) was formed in 1977 with joint investment of the United Mission to Nepal, Agriculture Development Bank of Nepal (ADB/N) and Nepal Fuel Corporation. Biogas plant such as floating steel drum design, concrete fixed dome design, pre-cased tunnel design, plastic bag biodigester, ferrocement gas holders, brick mortar dome, mud dome were tested and experimented. Finally, fixed dome design is the only one recognized design so far and became more popular in Nepal. The ADB/N provided interest free loans for the installation of biogas plants.
Fiscal year 1992/93 is a milestone for biogas development; private investments through registering private company were initiated. Until this year there was only one recognized Biogas Company, and was owned by government's corporations. So the real private sector's involvement in biogas development was started in 1992/93 only. Gradually this number increased to 11, 23, 36, 41 and 39 in 1993/94, 1995/96, 1996/97, 1997/98 and 1998/99 respectively.
Similarly facilities for the fabrication of biogas appliances have been increased; today there are over a dozen including a few internationally recognized biogas appliance suppliers in the country. Over 50,000 biogas plants are in operation in over 60 districts, which is less than 4% of the total potentials of 1.3 million.
Biogas Support Programme (BSP), with major funding from the Netherlands, has made significant contribution in achieving the present status in biogas development in Nepal.
RGG, a private biogas company, was established in 1992 in Chitawan, a inner Tarai district in Central Nepal. Initially it was aimed to install biogas plants in Chitawan and adjoining districts. RGG also started importing some parts of biogas stoves to functions its programme effectively. Work area was expanded immediately from the next year of its establishment, covering more middle hill and tarai districts.
By now RGG is working in 30 districts, covering four out of five development regions of Nepal. Year wise expansion is presented in Table 1 and plant installation and maintenance in Table 2. At present, we have our head office in Chitawan, Regional office in Pokhara, 10 branch offices, and depot in each district of our work area.
Table 1: Expansion of working area
Fiscal year |
Districts expanded |
1993/94 |
Chitawan, Nawalparasi |
1994/95 |
Gorkha, Kapilbastu, Kaski, Lamjung, Rupandehi, Tanahu, Bardiya, Surkhet, Parbat, Myagdi, Palpa |
1995/96 |
Dang, Dhading, Gulmi, |
1999/00 |
Arghakhanchi, Banke, Bara, Kailali, Makawanpur, Parsa, Rautahat, Slayan, Sarlahi, Sindhuli, Syangja, |
2000/01 |
Baglung, Kanchanpur, Mahotari, |
Table 2: Progress updates
Fiscal year |
District # |
Plant # |
Cumulative # |
Plant maintenance # |
1993/94 |
2 |
300 |
300 |
300 |
1994/95 |
13 |
609 |
909 |
909 |
1995/96 |
14 |
1042 |
1951 |
1951 |
1996/97 |
15 |
1266 |
3217 |
2917 |
1997/98 |
16 |
1710 |
4927 |
4018 |
1998/99 |
22 |
1628 |
6555 |
4604 |
1999/00 |
25 |
2075 |
8630 |
5413 |
2000/01 |
27 |
2699 |
11329 |
6402 |
2001/02 |
27 |
2241 |
13570 |
7015 |
Besides installation and maintenance of biogas plant, RGG is involved in the following activities.
Biogas development has substantial role in forest conservation. Direct effect can be attributed in the reduction in forest use for firewood. Some studies have indicated that about 65% reduction of firewood demand after installation of biogas plant. Some households have completed stopped collecting firewood from forest due to change from traditional stove to biogas.
Biogas installation changes the livestock rearing practice. People instead of free grazing in public land, including forests, are converting to stall-feeding. As the forests in developing country, like Nepal, are affected by grazing, biogas development may reduce the grazing pressure and eventually supporting forest regeneration.
Our experiences show that the biogas development strengthens the cohesion among villagers, and form a strong community. Such developments have been contributing community forestry programme in many of the areas RGG is working.
In summary, RGG's over a decade's experience shows that biogas development could be good opportunity for private sector to be involved in forest conservation. Donor's support in this sector is encouraging for small-scale private sector to participate in nation development.
1 Managing Director
Rastriya Gobar Gas Company Pvt Ltd
(National biogas company private limited)
Chaubis Kothi, Bharatpur
Chitawan, Nepal
Telephone: 977 56 22258 Fax 977 56 24275
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]