Next Era Energy Pvt. Ltd. conducted a successful test and produced gas from the wastes collected in Damak, Jhapa, on Friday.

In Damak, the process to produce gas and manure from collected wastes had begun four years ago under an investment of more than Rs. 200 million. Next Era Energy had already started producing manure from the wastes.

“We have been conducting tests to produce gas from wastes and it was successful on Friday evening,” said Bimal Khatiwada, director general of Next Era Energy.

“There were some obstructions due to political issues earlier. We have now finally started producing gas as well as manure from our plant,” said Khatiwada.

However, Khatiwada informed that there was a problem of distributing produced gas.

“A detailed project report (DPR) to install pipes to distribute gas to locals has been prepared but the government has failed to provide necessary budget for its implementation,” said Yubaraj Ghimire, chairman of Next Era Energy.

The plant has a capacity to produce 1,084 kg of gas, 10,000 kg of organic manure and 5,000 litre of liquid manure daily. “If the government supports us financially, we can make cooking gas reach every household through pipes,” said Ghimire.

Damak produces 15-20 tonnes of wastes daily and about 75 per cent of it is collected. Out of that 75 per cent, 66.52 per cent is organic wastes and used to produce gas.

The waste management plant has been operated by constructing necessary infrastructures on the bank of Ratuwa River in Ward No. 3 of Damak Municipality for more than two years.

Alternative Energy Promotion Centre has invested Rs. 58.8 million and Next Era Energy Rs. 147 million for the construction of the plant.