KATHMANDU, Jan 18: Now, green hydrogen can be produced and used in Nepal. A meeting of the Council of Ministers held on Wednesday passed a policy to allow the production and use of green hydrogen.
According to Industry, Commerce and Supplies Minister Ramesh Rijal, Wednesday's meeting passed the policy to allow the production and use of green hydrogen.
"The Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday passed the policy to allow the production and use of green hydrogen," said Minister Rijal.
‘Green hydrogen laws needed’
The policy making process of using 'green hydrogen', which is being developed as a modern green energy in the world, has been started since Mangsir 2078 BS to bring it to use in Nepal.
When Pampha Bhusal was the Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, she directed the Water and Energy Commission (WEC) to formulate the necessary policy for green hydrogen production and use.
After that, WEC Secretary Mani Ram Gelal formed a coordination committee under the leadership of Shishir Koirala, a joint secretary of the Commission. Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Energy Chiranjeevi Chataut, Deputy Director General of Power Development Department Jeebachh Mandal, Deputy Executive Director of Alternative Energy Promotion Center Navraj Dhakal, Professor of Tribhuvan University Institute of Engineering Dr Bholanath Sharma Ghimire and Deputy Professor of Kathmandu University Biraj Singh Thapa were the members of the committee.
Biraj Singh Thapa, head of Nepal Hydrogen Initiatives under Kathmandu University, said that after the government passed the policy on Wednesday, the production and use of green hydrogen can be officially done in Nepal.
Since no policy had been made yet, Kathmandu University was producing hydrogen as a pilot project by building a laboratory. Some time ago, the university had created a hydrogen vehicle and even a refueling station.
In India, the use of hydrogen energy has already started as a cooking fuel as well as operating buses from hydrogen. Thapa said that even in Nepal, hydrogen energy can be used for cooking and driving. He said that this will reduce the import of petroleum products and reduce the trade deficit.
"For production, the electricity generated at one location will be utilized through the transmission lines of Nepal Electricity Authority to produce hydrogen elsewhere. We are considering concessions and special policy facilitations for utilizing hydropower for hydrogen production, and bringing hydropower into a special category. Moreover, other renewable energy sources like solar and windmills will also be encouraged for hydrogen production. If these windmill operators show interest in production, we are prepared to offer them special assistance," explained Thapa.
According to Thapa, necessary arrangements will be made if coal or diesel based industries want to be powered by hydrogen and the government will make regulations for this.
