By Rajesh Man KC

 The increasing energy crisis has become a matter of global concern and Nepal is also no exception in this regard. Nepalese people have been suffering from an acute shortage of fuel for the past few years, the long queues of motors in front of the petrol pumps are testimony to this. Nepal itself is not a fuel producing country. So, it has become inevitable to explore the alternative sources of energy to meet the increasing demand of fuel and management of fuel crisis as well.

It may be recalled here that the Alternate Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC) had also declared the ongoing fiscal year 2065/66 as the year of alternate energy. So far as the sources of alternate energy are concerned, solar energy, wind energy, green energy, biomass, biogas and briquetting can be some of the primary and reliable sources of alternative energy.

Deforestation

It is estimated that over 80 per cent of the total population of Nepal is still using firewood as a primary source of energy. Besides that, feeding grass for domestic animals, setting fires in forestry and above all non-scientific as well as unsystematic farming are considered to be the major contributing factors to the process of rapid deforestation. As such, if we fail to give due priority for the promotion and development of green energy, not only would it worsen the deforestation but also lead to collapse of the industries.

Nepal is a mountainous country embedded with different climatatic characteristics. Nepal is also considered to be a home of endangered plants and vegetation. According to a recent study conducted by Green Energy Mission, an NGO, Nepal consists of more than 200 green energy plants and vegetation. The NGO claims that the energy ranging from 12 to 77 per cent can be obtained from such plants and vegetation. However, adequate studies are yet to be undertaken for potential green energy sources of such plants and vegetation available in the country. It is high time we initiate necessary scientific research and studies of these green energy plants as the alternative energy of fossil fuel like kerosene, diesel and gas. One of such green plants is Sajeevan that can produce billion litres of bio-diesel annually. The plant can be found at an altitude from 300 to 1400 metres.

The scientific name of Sajeevan is Jatropha carcus. The Sajeevan plant is easily available in Nepal. Studies have also shown that Sajeevan can easily be cultivated in several districts like Jhapa, Rautahat, Chitwan, Dang, Khotang, Taplejung, Tehrathum, Panchthar, Dhading, Gorkha, Tanahu, Kaski, Syangja, Gulmi, Ardhakhanchi, Pyuthan, Doti and Dailekh. It is estimated that Sajeevan can be cultivated in almost 30 per cent areas of the total land in Nepal.

Names of Sajeevan plant vary from place to place. For instance, the plant can be named as Kadam, Saruwa, Bakhundi and so on. The Sajeevan plant is grown and ripped in the month of Baisakh. However, Sajeevan that is grown and ripped based on climatic and topographical situation, can be collected until the month of Mangsir. Recent scientific studies have shown that the Sajeevan oil can explicitly be used to operate the diesel engine. It is estimated that present diesel consumption ratio is 30 billion annually in the country. But if we harvest Sajeevan in the area of 50 thousand hectares of land, we can significantly become self-reliance in the substitution of diesel oil. It is learnt that Sajeevan oil can be used to operate tractor, mill, cooking stove etc.

Besides, the Sajeevan oil also contains several medicinal values. Expert claim that Sajeevan plants can be used for the treatment of different kind of diseases. It is learnt that the Sajeevan plant is being used for the production and preparation of traditional medicines in the countries like India, Nigeria, Malaya, Philippines, Cambodia and Cameroon. Barks of the plant can also be used as organic compost to increase the production of agriculture foods and inputs.

Ethanol

After the Sajeevan plant, another potential source of bio-energy is ethanol. Particularly, ethanol is the refining bio-product of sugarcane factory. In other words, ethanol is the bi-product of sugarcane that is also known as molasses

Experts claim that mixing of 10 percent ethanol in petroleum products can support to lower the price of petrol by five rupees in a litre. Hence, ethanol itself can be used as a bio-diesel for the vehicles. But such vehicles need to have separate type of engine.

Last but not the least, it may be appropriate to mention here that research is being undertaken at Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) for the potential use of ethanol as the reliable source of alternate energy. It is expected that Nepal can save millions of dollars that is being spent for the import of petrol and diesel fuels from India and abroad. Such saving amount can definitely be utilized in other development projects that can help to reduce the existing problem of poverty and unemployment situation in the country.

Taking all these things into consideration, the green vegetation should and must be promoted as a reliable source of alternate energy for sustainable development of Nepal.

 The Rising Nepal