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The Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC) has begun distributing electric stoves to students from endangered indigenous nationalities and Dalit communities who have come to Kathmandu from outside the valley and are living in rented accommodation while pursuing undergraduate or higher-level studies, under its Clean Energy Programme.

Under the electric stove distribution programme being conducted on 8, 9 and 12 October, around 250 students from those communities will receive electric stoves.

The initiative aims to provide, albeit symbolically, some relief from the difficulties caused by shortages of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in the Kathmandu Valley and rising LPG prices by using electric stoves, the AEPC said in a statement on Friday.

It also aims to increase the consumption of domestically produced clean energy and further expand the promotion of electric stoves.

The AEPC has previously distributed more than 7,000 electric stoves targeting students. In partnership with local governments, it has also promoted electric stoves among 170,000 households.

In addition, under the Clean Cooking Solutions Programme being implemented in 22 Tarai districts with support from the Green Climate Fund, the Centre aims to distribute 500,000 electric stoves.

Launching the electric stove distribution programme, AEPC Executive Director Nawa Raj Dhakal said the use of electric stoves would directly contribute to increasing clean energy consumption and reducing the use of fossil fuels.

He also said that using electric stoves would significantly reduce students’ monthly expenses. The promotion of electric stoves has contributed to the government’s long-term goals related to renewable energy and climate change mitigation and adaptation. Under its Third Nationally Determined Contribution, the government has set a target of promoting electric stoves in 2.1 million households and 15,000 institutional settings by 2035 to reduce carbon emissions from the energy sector.

However, Nepal remains significantly dependent on traditional energy sources.

According to the Economic Survey for fiscal year 2025/26, traditional energy accounts for 58 per cent of total energy consumption, commercial energy for 39 per cent and renewable energy for around 3 per cent.

Of total commercial energy consumption, petroleum products account for 22 per cent, coal for 9 per cent and electricity supplied through the national grid for 8 per cent.

With electricity accounting for 8 per cent and renewable energy for around 3 per cent, only 11 per cent of total energy consumption currently comes from clean energy. "This highlights the challenge of converting the remaining 89 per cent of energy consumption to clean, renewable sources," said the AEPC.

According to the National Population and Housing Census 2021, firewood accounts for nearly 51 per cent of the main cooking fuels used by households, followed by LPG at 44 per cent, animal dung cakes at around 3 per cent, electricity at 0.5 per cent and biogas at 1.2 per cent.