Kathmandu: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Pampha Bhusal, has said that the government has set a goal to provide electricity facilities to all Nepalis within the next two years.

At a programme organised on the occasion of the silver jubilee of Alternative Energy Promotion Centre here today, Minister Bhusal expressed the view that electricity facility would be provided through the medium of alternative energy at such places where there is no central transmission line and none of the citizens would be deprived of access to modern electricity.

Priority has been given to increase the consumption of power produced in the country, to reduce imported fuel and to decrease the trade deficit, she shared.

Saying tariff of the electricity used for irrigation has been reduced not to let remain the land barren in lack of irrigation facility and the government has the policy to make it free of cost in days ahead, Minister Bhusal expressed the belief that the country could be made self-dependent in food from this.

"The government has decided to provide electricity service free of cost to the household consuming less than 20 units power in a month with an objective of providing electricity to poor people for building an equitable nation. More than 13 million people of 2.6 million households consuming less than 20 units of electricity will be directly benefitted from this," she opined.

Similarly, Energy Secretary Devendra Karki, mentioned that the state has put this technology at top priority as electricity service has been provided to the people of remote areas of the country through the medium of alternative energy and a way has been paved to earn foreign currencies by trading carbon in international level.

Saying Nepal has made remarkable progress in the development and promotion of renewable energy, British Ambassador to Nepal, Nicola Pollitt, added that investors should be increased in clean energy technology for the resolution of worldwide problems surfaced due to climate change.

Alternative Energy Promotion Centre’s executive director Dr Madhusudhan Adhikari said through Centre, around 3.5 million households had been benefited from renewable energy technology in the past 25 years.

According to him, 237,000 households are the beneficiaries of 36 megawatts of micro hydroelectricity. Similarly, 961,000 households have access to solar-powered energy, 160,000 improved cooking stoves have been fixed and 2,800 institutional solar plants have been installed. Likewise, the number of biogas plants installed during this period is 433,000. Besides, solar and energy mix mini-grids of above one megawatt have been also installed.

Renewable Energy Confederation of Nepal Chairperson Guna Raj Dhakal said the private sector had a great contribution to the development and expansion of alternative energy in Nepal. “Expected achievements would remain unmet until the government and donor agencies work hand-in-hand with the private sector.”

On the occasion, Husk Power Nepal Pvt Ltd (Birgunj), Gham Powar Nepal Pvt (Kathmandu), the Prisu Electronics Pvt Ltd (Kathmandu) were honoured with this year’s Suprabidh Memorial Renewable Energy Award carrying a purse of Rs 25,000 each.

On the occasion, Minister Bhusal honoured representatives from donor agencies, private organisations, academicians and media persons having a special contribution to the renewable energy sector.