Efficient, proper use of energy stressed for economic benefits

Kathmandu. Experts have advised for the promotion of energy efficiency for the proper utilization of energy, to secure economic benefits from carbon trade and mitigate the impact of climate change.

Speaking at the ‘National Policy Dialogue on Promoting Energy Efficiency as a New Source of Sustainable Energy Mix in Nepal’ organised here today on the occasion of the Silver Jubilee of the Alternative Energy Promotion Center, the participants were of the view of focusing on energy efficiency with the increase in power consumption to secure the benefits.

Joint Secretary at the Minister of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Madhu Prasad Bhetwal informed that the government had brought the strategy on energy efficiency three years ago and the government was planning to come up with a separate act soon being based on the same strategy. He also underlined the need of corrections in consumer’s behavior with the technical development of energy efficiency.

Center’s executive director Dr Madhu Sudan Adhikari works on energy efficiency had begun in Nepal in 1985, achievements in the latest decades were remarkable with the policy provisions and implementation of related programmes. He insisted that energy efficiency should be prioritised for the promotion of sustainable energy.

Simon Maximillian Heinkele, Deputy Head of the Development Cooperation, German Embassy stated that the Government of Germany had been assisting Nepal in energy sector for long and the future assistance would be primarily for the promotion of clean energy so as to cope with climate change adversities.

Senior energy specialist of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Programme (REEP), Dr Narayan Chaulagain, said energy efficiency was not about the energy consumption, it was the proper use of energy, instead. As he said, it was important for making economy competent, reducing energy cost and promoting the energy consumption. Presenting the data that per person annual energy consumption in Nepal is just 340 kilowatts, he was of the view of increasing it with the focus on energy production and energy efficiency. Energy expert Bishal Thapa gave his presentations highlighting on the weaknesses in energy efficiency in Nepal.

On the occasion, speakers, Prof. Dr Tri Ratna Bajracharya, Director for the Centre for Energy Studies, Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University, Sandip Kumar Dev, Director General for the Department of Electricity Development, Prabhat Kumar Singh, Deputy Director General for the Nepal Bureau of Standards & Metrology, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Shreeram Pokharel, Chief of the Energy Efficiency and Loss Reduction Department, Nepal Electricity Authority, Arniko Rajbhandari, executive committee member of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce & Industry and senior energy specialist Narayan Chaulagain shed light on energy efficiency requirement and importance.

Also, Dr Ajay Mathur, Director General for the International Solar Alliance, Saurabh Diddi, Director for the Bureau of Energy Efficiency, India and Mohammad Alauddin, Chairperson of the Sustainable and Renewable Energy Department Authority, Bangladesh also virtually spoke about the need for Nepal to learn and understand importance of the developments in energy efficiency that have taken place in the world.