NBPA and NMHDA leadership elected

In the separate annual general body meetings, Nepal Biogas Promotion Association (NBPA) and Nepal Micro Hydropower Development Association (NMHDA) had elected new executive committees unopposed.

The AGM of NBPA held on Wednesday and Thursday had elected Upendra Rimal as its president. Likewise, Eba Bahadur Thapa, Durga Prasad Adhikari, Yuwa Raj Dahal, Krishna Prasad Dhakal, Tilak Lal Shrestha were Senior Vice President, Vice President, General Secretary and Treasurer respectively. Likewise, Mina Sigdel was elected as a central committee member (female representative). Prakash Chandra Subedi, the immediate past president is also in the central working committee.

Similarly, Yuwa Raj Paudel, Kaji Ram Khadka, Bharat Bk, Ramesh Aryal and Kuber Bahadur Singh were elected as central committee members representing Koshi Province, Madhesh Province, Bagmati Province, Gandaki Province and Sudur Pashchim Province respectively.

Nepal Biogas Promotion Association is the umbrella organisation of biogas construction companies and Bio-gas appliances manufacturing workshops in Nepal. With more than 114 member companies NBPA is one of the biggest private sector organisation in the field of biogas in Nepal. NBPA offer expertise in biogas, bio-slurry, and new biogas technologies.

NBPA AGM was inaugurated by Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Shakti Bahadur Basnet. In the inaugural remarks, he said that the government is well working with private sector hand-in-hand.

On the occasion, Dr. Madhusudhan Adhikari was honoured for his outstanding contribution for the development of biogas technology in Nepal. Dr. Adhiakri had also led AEPC as executive director.

Former Minister Er Ganesh Shah, Executive Director of Alternative Energy Promotion Centre Nawa Raj Dhakal and chairperson of Renewable Energy Confederation of Nepal (RECON) also spoke on the occasion.

Saroj Rai, Prajwol Shakya and Dr. Rana Bahadur Thapa presented the present status biogas technology in Nepal, its technical aspects, scopes and opportunities and benefits to the users.

Similarly, the AGM of Nepal Micro Hydropower Development held on Thursday and Friday had elected Tej Narayan Thakur as its President. Likewise, Basnanta Raj Lamichhane, Man Bahadur Shahi, Bikram Raj Pradhan were elected for the designation of Vice President, General Secretary and Treasurer respectively. Shiva Adhikari.

On the occasion, managing director of Nepal Electricity Authority Kumaman Ghising and former president of NMHDA Krishna Prasad Devkota were honoured for their contribution to develop and innovate microhydro technology in Nepal.

During the inaugural session of the AGM, Executive Director of Alternative Energy Promotion Centre Nawa Raj Dhakal and chairperson of Renewable Energy Confederation of Nepal (RECON) also spoke on the occasion.

The speakers mentioned that electricity generated by microhydro plants have been successfully connected to the national grid. MidimKhola Micro Hydropower Plant and Syauribhumi Micro Hydropower Plant are the examples. The grid connected MHPs contributed to stabilise voltage quality and income generation to the communities. Thus, the investment of the government and community can be well utilised. The grid connection of MHPs also help energy mix provision, they mentioned. As such, MHPs of 20 kilowatt capacity and larger than that should be considered to connected to the grid or mini-grid systems being developed in the off-grid locations.

Nepal Micro Hydropower Development Association is an umbrella organization of private firms or companies who are involved actively in development of micro hydropower in the country. This was established in 1992 with efforts of then actively performing companies and firms It has been successful to accelerate the advancement in developing micro hydropower sector in the country from the inception.

The members of this organization had played a crucial role in furnishing the micro hydro resource of Nepal. Some of them have been contributing this sector for 3 decades and more. To date, more than 3,300 micro hydro plants are providing a worthy and much needed service to the villages of Nepal. These hydropower plants are main source of energy in the villages and popular amongst the rural people, mostly women whose time have been saved a lot and their workload consequently. And, children can read and write in the evening in the electrical lights.

For implementation of MHPs the association members were involved in all aspects of micro hydro for its sustainable development as they are of diverse typed, focusing on project identification, survey, design, installation, manufacturing of turbines and accessories, repair and maintenance and research of micro hydropower.

Moreover, NMHDA has been recognised for support to private sector, professionals and community with the technology development and delivery. Likewise, capacity building is another major task of the association.