Concrete plan needed to promote bio-gas: Finance Minister Poudel

Minister for Finance Bishnu Poudel has urged the concerned bodies to bring concrete plans to promote the bio-gas plants after holding proper coordination with Ministry of Environment, Alternative Energy Promotion Centre and Bio-gas Promotion Association. Inaugurating the 21st Annual General Assembly (AGM) of the Nepal Bio-gas Promotion Centre here in the capital today, Minister Poudel said that the government was ready to manage subsidy for setting up additional 70,000 bio-gas plants in the current fiscal year. He urged the concerned bodies to carry out the concrete plan within 15 days. The Finance Minister stressed on taking into account the capability while preparing the plan. Only 350,000 households so far were benefited by the bio-gas plants for the 50 years therefore policy in this regard should be reformed to reach the services to more households. Minister Poudel further opined for the collective efforts from the government and private sector to reduce the energy shortage and promotion of bio-gas plant, and stressed that solar energy was needed to reduce the crisis as well. Minister Poudel expressed his confidence that this general assembly of NBPA will deliberate and decide on the important undertakings for this umbrella organization of the biogas companies in the country. He argued that it was high time for the Association to walk the talk than being involved in sloganeering. Speaking at the programme, former Vice-Chairperson of the National Planning Commission Prof Dr Govindaraj Pokharel said that biogas production has been very useful in alleviating poverty for the fact it demands the utilization of local skills and resources, thereby contributing in creation of job opportunities which eventually leads to the social and economic development of the country. Chairperson of the Association Loknath Ghimire shared that of the total biogas plants established in the country in contribution and collaboration of various organizations, some 95 per cent of them are currently in operation, offering employment opportunities to more than 10,000 persons. He drew the attention of the authority concerned towards providing subsidy and grant for the development and promotion of biogas sector. The Association has 117 various biogas companies associated for the Programme, which could establish around 60,000 biogas plants, it was shared. The government's initiative 'National Rural and Renewable Energy Programme' undertaken three years aimed to construct 130,000 biogas plants in five years, but it has been able to accomplish the construction of only 80,000 such plants in various places across the country. RSS