Karnali's first biogas plant produces energy, organic fertiliser

KARNALI: A biogas plant has been established in Birendranagar, Surkhet district to generate energy and organic fertiliser from biodegradable waste. 

KP Byawosayik Sewa, the first company in Karnali Province related to environmental sanitation and hygiene, was founded by local entrepreneur Krishna Prasad Dhakal with an investment of Rs 140 million. The plant, with a capacity of 3,000 cubic metres, can process 30 tonnes of waste at full capacity.

Currently, the plant produces around nine tonnes of organic matter, 15,000 litres of liquid manure, and 720 kg of compressed natural gas (CNG), with financial support from the federal and provincial governments amounting to Rs 50 million and Rs 17.2 million respectively.

The plant, which utilises German technology, has contributed to environmental protection, climate change mitigation, and job creation, thereby supporting the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs), according to Dhakal.

However, Dhakal expressed concern about the large quantities of organic and liquid fertilisers produced by the biogas plant, which are not being adequately marketed. Furthermore, the fertilisers do not command a high price, with organic fertiliser selling for Rs 30 per kg and liquid fertiliser for Rs 10 or Rs 12 per litre.

Dhakal, who uses biogas for cooking and has not used liquefied petroleum (LPG) gas cylinders for a long time, has installed biogas plants in over 4,000 homes. His biogas enterprise, which employs 17 people, contributes to Karnali Province government's campaign to build an organic Karnali Province. Dhakal, who has studied biogas in Thailand, Cambodia, Germany, and India, among other places, runs the enterprise.

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