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 tonne 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 tonnes of carbon every year. Annually each plant earns $15 in revenue through carbon trading.

Speaking at a the 23rd annual meeting of the NBPA 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).