The Ministry of Energy today issued survey licence to Balaju Biomass Company to carry out feasibility study to generate electricity from solid waste.
The company has been given one year to complete the feasibility study at Sisdole Landfill site. It is estimated that 15.5 Megawatts of electricity can be produced from there. The total energy production per year would be 98.2 crores units from solid waste dumped at Sisdole,” the document submitted to the energy ministry claims.
Secretary at the Ministry of Energy Hari Ram Koirala said the ministry would be happy to work on such innovative ideas and would be supportive if the feasibility study proves it viable. “This is a new initiative and the ministry would like to encourage such work and if it is viable we will sign power purchase agreement,” said Koirala.
The company has proposed Rs 12 as power purchase rate per unit, but the secretary said there is need to produce electricity first. “We are positive and power purchase rate can be finalised later. However, at this stage, we need reliable study assuring energy production,” Koirala added.
There hasn’t been any production of electricity from solid waste in Nepal, but there are successful examples of production of energy from waste in South Korea and in many other developed countries. “This is clean energy and there won’t be a problem in giving a higher rate while buying energy, but it depends on negotiations,” said Koirala.
