March 16: With an ambitious plan of eradicating indoor smoke in Nepalis’ home within next five years, Nepal Biomass Energy Strategy has been implemented. Jaydev Joshi, Environment Minister of Nepal published Biomass Energy Strategy prepared by Population and Environment Ministry together with Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC) on March 16.

“The policy has been implemented in order to preserve the environment and to develop traditional solid fuel (wood, animal dung and crop waste) into modern, sustainable and clean energy.  The government expects that the strategy will help to reduce fuel import and dependency on LP gas. Moreover, the government aims to develop advanced biomass energy by generating energy from the wastage of urban areas which will also effectively manage the wastage.

The strategy mentions that in order to achieve the government target, use of biodiesel and bio-ethanol will encouraged so that to reduce consumption of diesel and petrol by increasing production of biomass energy through the utilization of bio waste and agricultural leftovers. The technology will make every Nepali household smoke free, said the ministry. The government has claimed of making Nepal indoor smoke free within 2022 by promoting advance bio energy and ensuring reach of advance clean energy to each household by using solid fuel by 2030.