The adoption of biogas plants has come a long way in significantly reducing the dependence on forest for firewood and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).

 Biogas plants have been installed in 400,000 households across the country since it was started in an organised way back in 1975.

According to Nepal Biogas Promotion Association (NBPA), an umbrella body of biogas constructor, one biogas plant saves 3.3 tons of firewood every year which is equal to two trees.  In addition, the country is also earning Rs 1 billion annually in carbon trading which primarily is contributed by the biogas sector. A biogas plant saves 3 tons of carbon every year. Annually each plant earns $ 15 in revenue through carbon trading.

Speaking at a the 23rd annual meeting of the Association in the Capital on Friday, Padam Dulal chairman of the NPPA said that there is still possibility to construct additional 600,000 plants across the nation that can further reduce the country’s huge dependence on imported fossil fuel. The Nepal government has been subsidising the cost for the construction of such plants.

“As the authority of the renewable energy rests on the local government, we are in a state of confusion as to how the sector will move ahead in the new set-up,” said Dulal.

Currently over 120 biogas companies have been carrying out the construction of the biogas plants in coordination with Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC).

Also speaking at the programme, CPN-UML Secretary Pradeep Gyawali lauded the role played by NBPA in promotion and expansion of biogas. He also asked the Association to start the large plants which can be used in a commercial way.

Currently a plant has been set up in Rupandehi which produces 300 cylinders of biogas daily out of urban wastes. “We have huge potential, and these plants can be replicated in other parts of the country,” Gyawali added.