Photo: Nisha Rai/TRN Venture Waste to Energy project.

The Venture Waste to Energy project, launched with the objective of processing waste from Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City to produce gas and fertiliser, has shut down just a short time after coming into operation.

To generate energy by processing Dharan’s waste, a tripartite agreement was signed eight years ago between Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City, the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre, and Venture Waste to Energy Pvt. Ltd.

In accordance with the agreement, the industry was established in Dharan–6, Panbari, on an area of 22 katthas with an investment of Rs. 240 million. The project also received a subsidy of around Rs. 70 million from the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre and the World Bank.

However, as the processing centre has remained closed for the past four months, the project has now been left in limbo.

Industry operator Jenesh Shrestha stated that although the project aimed to produce biogas from organic waste and use it in tempos and other vehicles—following extensive studies and successful initial trials—the company was forced to shut down the processing centre due to a lack of government support and the absence of clear policies.

According to him, as there are no government policies or regulations governing the sale of the gas produced, it became difficult to sell the gas, pushing the industry to the point of closure.

“We have been demanding the formulation of policies for the past three to four years, but no concrete initiative has been taken. Even if production is possible, the gas cannot be sold in the absence of clear rules,” Shrestha said, adding that although the government keeps saying policies will be formulated, the company will remain closed until concrete steps are taken.

According to Bhesh Raj Ghimire, Chief of the Environment Section of Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City, the industry shut down due to neglect by the federal government and the project operator, legal complexities, and administrative ambiguity.

Dharan produces between 45 and 50 tonnes of waste daily. Currently, the city is temporarily managing waste by collecting it and dumping it near the Seuti River close to the Charkose forest.

The waste processing centre was inaugurated in January 2022. The plan was to process the large volume of organic waste generated daily to produce household cooking gas and organic fertiliser.

Intending to replace Dharan’s long-standing traditional dumping system, converting organic waste into a useful resource, and transforming the city into a ‘Clean City’, Venture Waste to Energy had installed conversion kits in more than 20 three-wheelers in Dharan and conducted trials to run them on both petrol and gas.

After the trials proved successful, a gas refilling station was constructed in the Bhotepul area. The company claimed that one kilogram of gas could run a tempo for 35–36 km, would be Rs. 10 to 15 cheaper than petrol, reduce environmental pollution, and save Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City around Rs. 30 million annually in waste management costs.

By Nisha Rai,Dharan