KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 3

Last month, Nepal organised a Green Hydrogen Summit that aimed to explore alternative sources of energy. The event was organised at the initiative of Non-Resident Nepali Association's former president Shesh Ghale.

As the world is marred by skyrocketing prices of petroleum products, particularly in the aftermath of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, its impacts are ubiquitous. Nepal is also not untouched by the ripple of increasing prices of petroleum products.

Alternative sources of energy are being explored across the world. Amidst this search, talk of green hydrogen has been a hot topic while some nations have already started its production.

Back home, Nepal Electricity Authority, Nepal Oil Corporation, and Kathmandu University are collaborating to explore its potential. The university has already established a lab to work on the possibility of green hydrogen generation in the country.

The use of fossil fuels has proved to be a major cause of greenhouse effect. Production and use of green hydrogen has been assessed as one of the best alternatives to fossil fuels.

It is said that big countries in the world such the US, UK, China and India have already gone ahead with its production.

The Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation has come up with a concept for its production. According to Finance Minister Janardan Sharma, time demands investment and e introduction of technology to switch to action for green hydrogen productions instead of just spending time on discussions.

He said Nepal had the potential to generate hydrogen and ammonia that could compete in the global market. 'The government has proceeded with some preliminary efforts aimed at producing and exporting hydrogen and ammonia,' he said.

In this context, political parties have raised the issue of green hydrogen with utmost priority in their manifesto prepared in view of the elections to member of the House of Representatives and the Province Assembly.

Maoist Centre's senior leader Vice-chair Naryan Kaji Shrestha stressed the need to take the nation towards the path of economic prosperity by implementing the constitution 'that has institutionalised our political achievements'. He said the left-democratic alliance candidates should be given people's mandate so that the nation could make a stride to economic prosperity.

CPN-Maoist Centre associated with left democratic alliance in its manifesto has given space to the issue of establishing hydrogen plant within the next five years with due priority.

In view of the increasing energy crisis in the world, the CPN-Maoist has incorporated the issue of developing necessary policy and institutional structure. Nepal now produces 2,300 MW electricity.

The Maoist party, through its manifesto, has brought the issue of producing green hydrogen using electricity up for discussion.

Secretary of CPN-MC Ganesh Shah said the party had stressed on formulation of a policy to increase investment in science and technology and its utility in the changing global context.

An entrepreneur Ghale had developed the idea of investing in alternative source of energy.

Ghale said Nepal could be a hub of green hydrogen. 'The availability of energy is gradually increasing in Nepal,' he noted.

Ghale said the group of entrepreneurs had a plan for producing green hydrogen from clean water and selling it as an alternative energy in the global market.

The himalayan glaciers and glacial lakes in the region are sources of major rivers in Nepal - Koshi, Gandaki, Karnali and Mahakali. These rivers are sources of drinking water for more than 500 million people living in the Ganges belt downstream.

Global warming and snow mass and glacial lakes in the himalayas have been adversely affected due to the impact of climate change.

Nepal, which participated in the COP26 last year, has made commitment to become carbon-neutral by 2045.

It is seen that green hydrogen provides the opportunity to address the issue of growing threat posed by climate change and emphasises the dire need to reduce carbon emission globally.

Nepal can take the lead in this regard.

A version of this article appears in the print on November 4, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.