Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Proceedings of International
Conference on Renewable Energy Technology for Sustainable Development (RETSUD-09); 12-14
November, 2009, Kathmandu, Nepal; pp. 112-118.
Biofuel is defined as solid, liquid or gaseous fuel derived from relatively recently dead biological material and is distinguished from fossil fuels,
which are derived from long dead biological material. Two common strategies of producing biofuels as agrofuels are: to grow crops high in
sugar or starch, and then use yeast fermentation to produce ethanol; and to grow plants that contain high amounts of vegetable oil, such as oil
palm, soybean, algae, Jatropha, or Pongamia pinnata. When these oils are heated, their viscosity is reduced, and they can be burned directly in a
diesel engine, or they can be chemically processed to produce fuels such as biodiesel. Jatropha is now gaining its popularity worldwide as one of
the most prominent source of biofuel. Government of Nepal (GoN) announced the Biofuel Programme (Jaibik Indhan Karyakram), to be
implemented through Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (AEPC), in the fiscal year (FY) 2008/09 (BS. 2065/66). The main activities under
this programme are: formulation of strategy for promotion of biofuel, preparation of modern nurseries for Jatropha plantation, capacity building
for Jatropha plantation, establishment of biofuel processing plants, carrying out pilot projects from biofuels, and some promotional activities.
This programme is expected to establish partnership and coordination among different stakeholders in the sector, to create awareness in the
general public, and to build a fundamental framework for the further development of biofuel sector in Nepal. GoN has already decided to
continue the Biofuel Programme as one of the regular programmes of AEPC in the FY 2009/10 and thereafter.
Nepal has 8 operating sugar mills out of the 25 Figure -1: Chemical Equation for Trans-esterification
registered, out of which, only four claim to have
capacity to produce ethanol. Three claim that they can
produce ethanol by the cracking method and one has Biodiesel can be produced from the plants that contain
already the facility of dehydration plant through the high amounts of vegetable oil, such as oil palm,
molecular sieve technology. Except one, all sugar soybean, algae, Jatropha, or Pongamia pinnata.
mills are relying only on sugar molasses to produce When these oils are heated, their viscosity is reduced,
ethanol. The total potential of ethanol production, at and they can be burned directly, straight vegetable oil
present is about 20,000 kL/year and the biggest sugar (SVO), in a diesel engine, or they can be chemically
mill is having the production capacity of about 30 processed to biodiesel [10]. Jatropha curcas which
kL/day. The quality of anhydrous ethanol that can be can be easily cultivated in degraded lands, semiarid
produced by a biggest sugar mill is 99.8% v/v from lands, waste lands, and marginal lands, is now widely
the feedstock of rectified spirit 95% v/v [13]. gaining its popularity all over the world as a source of
However, there are 40 distilleries registered in biofuel. Biofuel Programme of GoN is also
government agency consuming ethanol. The supply of specifically focused in Jatropha.
ethanol for fuel also depends on the demand of
ethanol by these distilleries. Jatropha (local name- ‘Sajiwan’ or ‘Kadam’) is a
drought-resistant perennial shrub growing well in
From these figures it shows that there is a good future marginal/poor soil. It is easy to establish, grows
and resource potential to produce bio-ethanol from the relatively quickly and lives, producing seeds for 50
existing sugar mills. Once the utilization of ethanol years. It produces seeds with oil content from 30% to
becomes popular in practice, utilizing other bio- 48% [14]. The oil can be combusted as fuel without
products, which are financially and economically being refined or can be converted into biodiesel. It
feasible without having impacts on food security and burns with clear smoke-free flame, tested successfully
environment, will automatically increase the supply as fuel for simple diesel engine. The oil is also
side of ethanol. insecticidal. Jatropha plantation can be done by
generative propagation (direct seeding) or vegetative
2.2. Biodiesel propagation (cutting). Jatropha is found up to 1400
meters of altitude. It is reported from 64 districts of
Biodiesel is produced from oils or fats using trans- Nepal [15]. Not only biodiesel is proven important but
esterification and is a liquid similar in composition to also it’s by-products like glycerol and oil cake, can be
fossil/mineral diesel. Its chemical name is fatty acid very useful for household and commercial purpose.
methyl (or ethyl) ester (FAME). Oils are mixed with Glycerol has high commercial value in soap making,
sodium hydroxide and methanol (or ethanol) and the cosmetic industries like lotions, shampoo, beauty
chemical reaction produces biodiesel (FAME) and creams etc and also in pharmaceuticals - that can save
glycerol. One part glycerol is produced for every 10 our foreign currencies by reducing the import of such
parts biodiesel [10]. products. Oil cake can be used as organic manure and
also in producing briquettes.
The programme was initiated with the main Two batches of 3-day training of trainers (ToT) on
objectives to pave a path for the sustainable Jatropha cultivation were organized and 57 trainers
promotion of biofuel in Nepal. The major activities were trained on different aspects of Jatropha nursey,
to be carried out under this programme starting in FY plantaion, post-plantation activities, biodiesel
2008/09 were: formulation of strategy for promotion production etc at central level. Then those trainers
of biofuel, preparation of modern nurseries for served as resource persons for regional level
Jatropha plantation, training/capacity building for trainings on Jatropha plantation organized to train
Jatropha plantation, establishment of biofuel prospective Jatropha farmers. Altogether 10 batches
processing plants, carrying out pilot projects from of 5-day Jatropha plantation trainings were
biofuels, and promotional activities for biofuel. conducted in 5 development regions, 2 batches in
each region through 5 different firms and total 238
3.1.1 Standing List and Call for Proposals farmers got benefitted from these trainings (Annex
2). Training manual on Jatropha plantation has been
To fulfill the obligations of GoN’s financial published by consolidating the resources used in the
regulation and to get the real picture of organizations ToT and Jatropha plantation trainings.
working in or interested to work in the biofuel sector,
AEPC published public notice seeking applications 3.1.5 Establishment of Biofuel Processing Plant
from the interested organizations/firms with relevant
documents. Out of 94 applications received during In this context, a biofuel processing plant has been
the due period, only 43 were selected for “Standing simply defined as the establishment of devices
List”. Then sealed technical and financial proposals whereby the Jatropha seeds can be expelled and the
were called from the listed organizations for the received oil can be trans-esterified into biodiesel.
implementation of planned activities [16]. Initially, 5 processing plants were planned to be
established in 5 development regions, one in each
3.1.2 Strategy Formulation for Biofuel Promotion region, of Nepal. But after the discussion with the
relevant stakeholders, it was decided to establish 2
Biofuel sector being a new sector in Nepalese processing plants only, mainly because of the
context, development of strategy on biofuel is aimed feedbacks that there is no sufficient raw materials
to pave the way for the overall promotion and available. Two processing plants - each with capacity
progress of this programme. In this regards AEPC of 1000 litres/day and supplied from Best
formed a team of experts covering different Engineering Technology (BET), Hyderabad, AP,
disciplines relevant to biofuel sector, on the India - have been established through two private
leadership of Prof. Dr. Riddhi Bir Singh (RECAST, organizations, one in Chitwan (central region) and
TU), Biofuel Expert, to draft the strategy in overall Palpa (western region) each (Annex-3).
aspects of biofuel. The team sketched a road map for Demonstration run of the plants has also been done
the strategy on their assigned fields, which was later by producing biodiesel form Jatropha seeds. But due
compiled into a single document [16]. The to the unavailability of the Jatropha seeds, their
formulated document was later finalized with wider operation is stopped after their installation and the
stakeholder feedback and endorsed through the entrepreneurs are looking for Jatropha seeds [17, 18,
Ministry (MoEST). The strategy focuses on the 19].
production and commercialization of the biodiesel
and this strategy is expected to play vital role in 3.1.6 Establishment of Quality Control
developing policy of biofuel sector in the near future. Laboratory
3.1.3 Establishment of Jatropha Nurseries Quality Control Laboratory (QC Lab) is necessary
for the detection, analysis and to improve the quality
For the mass cultivation of Jatropha, availability of of biodiesel produced from different biodiesel plants.
healthy saplings is a precondition and, therefore, the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) holds the sole
programme supported for the establishment of more authority as importer, supplier & distributor of the
than 20 modern Jatropha nurseries through 12 petroleum products in Nepal and the
different organizations and to produce more than commercialization of the biodiesel through blending
1.25 million Jatropha saplings (Annex 1) available with fossil diesel depends on the support from the
to the interested Jatropha farmers, organizations; NOC. AEPC intends to join hands with NOC to
among all, most of the seedlings were distributed move forward with the establishment of QC Lab.
among the community forest groups and District Since NOC has already established its own big scale
Land Conservation Office. A 1-day workshop on laboratory for the testing of the petroleum products
different aspects of Jatropha Nursery Establishment and most of the properties of biodiesel are similar to
was held in Butwal, beforehand. diesel, therefore, cooperation with NOC would be
115 RETSUD-09, 12-14 November 2009, Kathmandu, Nepal
more practical and cost effective in this regard. At performance of engines with biodiesel blends
the same time, collaboration with other relevant [16].
partners namely Nepal Bureau of Standard
Management and Renewable Energy Test Station is 4. Biofuel Programme, in collaboration with
also sought. Preliminary discussions has already been Bhairav Darshan Jatropha Energy Promotion
done with above mentioned stakeholders with Nepal, participated in RET Expo 2009 in
positive responses from all sides and some concrete Bhrukuti Mandap, Kathmandu, where various
and fruitful steps such as signing an MoU for the materials related to biofuel and Jatropha (such
purpose are expected soon. as Jatropha oil, seed, steam, Pine resin,
Bioethanol from Pine resin, Castor oil, Jatropha
3.1.7 Conduction of Pilot Projects using Biofuel Boucher, leaflet audio-visual documentary etc.)
were exhibited and thousands of visitors
To bring Biofuel into life and to aware people about observed the expo [16].
the successful use of biofuel, AEPC has planned to
conduct pilot projects using biofuel. This activity 5. Biofuel Programme supported BDJEP-Nepal for
was kept open i.e. interested firms could use biofuel their two days Jatropha fuel promotion and
(biodiesel or SVO) in any systems, in substituting awareness programme where use of Jatropha oil
fossil fuel, which comes in use in our day to day life. to run a vehicle from Palpa to Kathmandu. An
Because of the unavailability of Jatropha oil, less interaction programme was held in Kathmandu,
than expected proposals were received in this activity with participation of Minister for MoFSC, high
and AEPC has extended hands of partnership with ranking government officials, other stakeholders,
four organizations (Annex-4). and media persons. Jatropha Oil was used to run
the Minister’s vehicle and the programme was
3.1.8 Development of IEC materials well covered by different media, which helped in
drawing the attention on biofuel of different
To create public awareness and to disseminate corners of society [16].
information regarding biofuel and its progress, AEPC
has decided to produce Information, Education and 6. AEPC supported Nepal Appreciative Inquiry
Communication (IEC) materials such as brochure, National Network for conducting an interaction
booklet, leaflet and audio-visuals. A brochure on programme in Dhangadhi accompanied with
Jatropha is published twice; some booklets and running vehicle using Jatropha oil with the
training manuals are also published while some participation of more than 150 participants from
others are still under way. GOs, NGOs and different stakeholders [16].
Annex-2: Details of Jatropha Plantation Trainings Supported under Biofuel Programme of AEPC
Address of Development Total
SN Name of Organization Organization Training Venue Region Covered Trainee
Renaissance Society Nepal J/V.C Himal Balkot-2, Bhaktpur Lahan, Siraha & Itahari, Sunsari Eastern 60
1 Energy Consultant P. Ltd.
Himalyan Agro Enterprises And Research Kalimati, Kathmandu Banepa, Kavre & Hetauda, Central 46
2 Center P. Ltd. Makwanpur
Bhairab Darshan Sajiwan Urja Prabardhan Palpa, Tansen-6 Tansen, Palpa Western 43
3 Sanstha
4 Multiscope Consultancy P. Ltd. Buddhanagar-10, Ktm Nepalgunj, Banke Mid-Western 43
5 Community Rural Development Society Darchula Sunderpur, Kanchanpur Far-Western 46
Total 238
Annex-3: Details of Biodiesel Processing Plants Established under Biofuel Programme of AEPC
Plant
SN Name of Organizations Address Processing Plant Site Capacity Contact No. Contact Person
Resunga Madane Jadibuti Tatha Krishi Tamghas, Gulmi Jhumsa, Dovan, Palpa 1000 ltr/day 9741146657, Madan Bista
1 Utpadan Prashodan P. Ltd. 9847122812
Himalyan Agro Enterprises & Research Kalimati, Dhanusa, Ramnagar 1000 ltr/day 014670821, Tek Bdr. Thapa
2 Center P. Ltd. Kathmandu 9851090961