Asta-Ja and Energy Security in Nepal
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.13052/spee1048-4236.4021Keywords:
Hydroelectricity, alternative energy sources, energy security, Asta-Ja, NepalAbstract
Energy independence and sustainable renewable energy sources are the two main components of energy security for Nepal. More than 2/3rd of energy consumed in Nepal comes from biofuels and waste and about 1/4th of energy consumed comes from coal and petroleum products. With increasing number of motor vehicles and rising demand for cooking gas, Nepal’s coal and petroleum import bills in recent years have reached over Rs. 200 billion. With its vast water resources, Nepal has a great potential for energy independence and sustainability and achieve energy security. Nepal’s current 1,689 MW hydroelectricity capacity is expected to reach over 5,000 MW in next three to five years, which means Nepal will have a large amount of clean energy in the market. This increased hydropower production will also require an increased domestic consumption by making hydroelectricity affordable, reliable, and high-quality energy by improving its distribution system. Nepal also has a very high potential for solar power, which need to be harnessed and brought to the national grid. Nepal needs to harness all energy sources, which consist of hydropower, solar power, wind power, biofuels, and biogas, in a sustainable way for its energy independence and security. Because Nepal is in a geologically active and natural disasters prone area, it is critical to ensure ecological balance of Asta-Ja elements, Nepali letter, Jal (water), Jamin (land), Jungle (forest), Jadibuti (medicinal and aromatic plants), Janashakti (manpower), Janawar (animal), Jarajuri (crop plants) and Jalabayu (climate) while developing energy resources. Asta-Ja Framework serves as the connecting bridge between the energy resources and the end users. Strategic planning for comprehensive energy development considering ecological balance of Asta-Ja resources, decarbonization and electrification of energy end uses, improvement of energy infrastructures, continuous monitoring and evaluation of energy sector, and development of hydropower plants and alternative energy sources such as solar and wind is suggested for energy security in Nepal.
Downloads
References
Alam, F., Alam, Q., Reza, S., Khurshid-ul-Alam, SM., Saleque, K., and
Chowdhury, H., 2017. A review of hydropower projects in Nepal, Energy
Procedia 110 (2017) 581–585, Elsevier Ltd., Available at: https://www.sc
iencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876610217302187
D. D. Poudel
Arita, K., Hayashi, D., and Yoshida, M. (1982). Geology and structure of the
Pokhara-Piuthan area, central Nepal. Jour. Nepal Geol. Soc, 2, 5–29.
Bajracharya, T.R., Acharya, S., and Ale, B.B., 2011. Changing climatic
parameters and its possible impacts in hydropower generation in Nepal
(A case study on Gandaki River Basin), Journal of the Institute of Engi-
neering, Vol. 8(1):169–173. Available at: https://www.nepjol.info/index.
php/JIE/article/view/5108
Bhushal, R., 2021. The forgotten tale of Nepal’s first hydro project, The Third
Pole, Available at: https://www.thethirdpole.net/en/energy/the-forgotten
-tale-of-nepals-first-hydro-project/
Bhatt, R.P., 2017. Hydropower development in Nepal- Climate change,
impacts and implications, Intechopen.com. Available at: https://www.in
techopen.com/books/renewable-hydropower-technologies/hydropowe
r-development-in-nepal-climate-change-impacts-and-implications,
DOI:10.5772/66253. pp. 75–98.
Butchers, J., Williamson, S., and Booker, J., 2021. Micro-Hydropower
in Nepal: Analysing the Project Process to Understand Drivers that
Strengthen and Weaken Sustainability, Sustainability, 13, 1582. https:
//doi.org/10.3390/su13031582.
Corwin, H., Eddings, K., Bailey, G., Braun, A., Mann, A., Gomez, V.,
Heafner, H., Faulk, W., Immel, L., Hingdon, A., Stelly, B., Brous-
sard, B.N., Willis, L., Martin, T.C., Mizelle, T.J., Baker, A.J., Duex,
T., and Poudel, D.D., 2019. Enriching college students through study
abroad: A case of Nepal Field Experience Part 1, ASEJ 23(4):24–29.
DOI:10.5604/01.3001.0013.6832 (online).
Ghimire, B., 2020. Why the MCC compact courted controversy in Nepal,
published by the Kathmandu Post on January 9, 2020. Available at: https:
//kathmandupost.com/national/2020/01/09/why-the-mcc-compact-courte
d-controversy-in-nepal
Gibbons, A. D., Whittaker, J. M., and M ̈uller, R. D. (2013). The breakup of
East Gondwana: Assimilating constraints from Cretaceous ocean basins
around India into a best-fit tectonic model. Journal of geophysical
research: solid earth, 118(3), 808–822.
Gyawali, D., 2013. Reflecting on the Chasm between Water Punditry and
Water Politics, Water Alternatives 6(2): 177–194, Available at: https:
//www.water-alternatives.org/index.php/tp1-2/1882-vol6/237-issue6-2
Gyawali, D., 2021. Bijuli Bikas Sahi Margama Doryauna Chahine Abashyak
Sudhar, Published on August 10, 2021 in Setopati-Nepal’s Digital
Asta-Ja and Energy Security in Nepal 117
Newspaper, Setopati Sanchar, Pvt. Ltd., Available at: https://www.seto
pati.com/opinion/245677 (In Nepali language).
IEA (International Energy Agency). 2021. Total energy supply (TES) by
source Nepal 1990–2018, Available at: https://www.iea.org/countries/
Nepal.
IFC (International Finance Corporation). 2021. Harnessing Nepal’s Hydropower
for Energy Starved South Asia, Available at: https://www.ifc.org/wps/wc
m/connect/news ext content/ifc external corporate site/news+and+event
s/news/nepal+hydropower
Karki, K., KC. H., 2020. Nepal-India Relations: Beyond Realist and Lib-
eral Theoretical Prisms, Australian Journal of International Affairs, DOI:
3126/joia.v3i1.29085, Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/pub
lication/342165968 Nepal-India Relations Beyond Realist and Liberal
Theoretical Prisms
Khanal, R., 2019. Oil import bill soared 25 percent to Rs214.48 billion in last
fiscal, The Kathmandu Post, Published on August 6, 2019, Available at:
https://kathmandupost.com/money/2019/08/06/oil-import-bill-soared-25
-percent-to-rs214-48-billion-in-last-fiscal
Lohani, S.P., and Blakers, A., 2021. 100% renewable energy with pumped-
hydro-energy storage in Nepal, Clean Energy, Volume 5, Issue 2, June
, Pages 243–253, Available at: https://academic.oup.com/ce/article/
/2/243/6275217, https://doi.org/10.1093/ce/zkab011
Martin, A. J., Ganguly, J., and DeCelles, P. G. (2010). Metamorphism of
Greater and Lesser Himalayan rocks exposed in the Modi Khola valley,
central Nepal. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 159(2), 203.
MCC (Millennium Challenge Corporation). 2017. MCC Acting CEO
Jonathan Nash’s Remarks at the Nepal Compact Signing, September 14,
, Washington D.C., Available at: https://www.mcc.gov/news-and-e
vents/speech/speech-091417-nash-nepal-compact-signing
MoEWRI (Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation). 2021. Con-
struction License: Hydro (>1 MW), Ministry of Energy, Water Resources
and Irrigation, Government of Nepal, Available at: http://www.doed.gov
.np/license/66
MoF (Ministry of Finance). 2020. Economic Survey 2019/20, Ministry of
Finance, Government of Nepal, Singh Durbar, Kathmandu, Available at:
https://mof.gov.np/uploads/document/file/Economic%20Survey%202019
NEA (Nepal Electricity Authority). 2014. A Year in Review- Fiscal Year
/2014, Nepal Electricity Authority, Durbar Marg, Kathmandu, Nepal.
D. D. Poudel
Available at: http://www.nea.org.np/images/supportive docs/AnnualRepo
rt-2014.pdf
NEA (Nepal Electricity Authority). 2019. Nepal Electricity Authority Corpo-
rate Development Plan 2018/19 – 2020/23, Nepal Electricity Authority,
Durbar Marg, Kathmandu, Nepal. Available at: https://energypedia.info/i
mages/c/c7/NEA Corporate Development Plan.pdf
NEA (Nepal Electricity Authority). 2020. A Year in Review- Fiscal Year
/2020, Nepal Electricity Authority, Durbar Marg, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Available at: https://www.nea.org.np/annual report
NPC (National Planning Commission). 1980. The Sixth Plan, National Plan-
ning Commission, Singh Durbar, Kathmandu, Nepal, Available at: https:
//www.npc.gov.np/images/category/sixth eng.pdf
Pant, B., 2018. Socio economic impact of undeclared blockade of India
on Nepal, Research Nepal Journal of Development Studies, Volume I,
Issue 1, 2018 May, pp. 18–27, Available at: https://www.nepjol.info/
index.php/rnjds/article/view/21270
Pokhrel, T.R., and Rijal, H.B., 2021. Energy transition toward cleaner energy
resources in Nepal, Sustainability, 13(8) 4243, Available at: https://www.
mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/8/4243
Poudel, D., 2018. 3.1 million motor vehicles on Nepali roads: DoTM, Pub-
lished by myrepublic on July 4, 2018. Available at: https://myrepublica.
nagariknetwork.com/news/3-1-million-motor-vehicles-on-nepali-roads
-dotm/
Poudel, D.D., 2008. Management of Eight ‘Ja’ for Economic Development in
Nepal. Journal of Comparative International Management, 11(1): 15–27.
Poudel, D.D., 2009. The Asta-Ja Environmental and Natural Resources Policy
Framework (Asta-Ja ENRPF) for Sustainable Development in Nepal.
Journal of Comparative International Management, 12(2): 49–71.
Poudel, D.D., 2011. A strategic framework for environmental and sustain-
able development in Nepal. International Journal of Environment and
Sustainable Development, 10(1): 48–61.
Poudel, D.D., 2012. The Asta-Ja Management Capacity-building Frame-
work for Sustainable Development in Nepal, International Journal of
Sustainable Development, Vol. 15, No. 4, pp. 334–352.
Poudel, D.D., 2016. Management of Asta-Ja System, Journal of Comparative
International Management, 19(2): 19–40.
Poudel, D.D., 2018a. Management of Cooperatives Focusing on Asta-Ja and
Globalization, Journal of Comparative International Management, 21(1):
–84.
Asta-Ja and Energy Security in Nepal 119
Poudel, D.D., 2018b. Restructuring National Planning Commission Focusing
on Asta-Ja and Nepal Vision 2040, Asian Profile, 46(2): 151–167.
Poudel, D.D., 2021. Asta-Ja Framework: A Peaceful Approach to Food,
Water, Climate, and Environmental Security Coupled with Sustainable
Economic Development and Social Inclusion in Nepal, Strategic Plan-
ning for Energy and the Environment, Vol. 39, 1–4, 243–318. doi:
13052/spee1048-4236.391412
Poudel, D.D., and Duex, T.W., 2017. Vanishing Springs in Nepalese
Mountains: An Assessment of Water Sources, Farmer’s Perceptions,
and Climate Change Adaptation, Mountain Research and Development,
(1):35–46. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-16-00
1 http://telegraphnepal.com/asta-ja-crusade-for-a-fast-paced-agro-j
adibuti-industrialization-of-nepal/
Rai, K.R., 2020. Micro hydro plants destined for oblivion in rural Nepal,
Published in the Kathmandu Post on September 2, 2020, Available at:
https://kathmandupost.com/money/2020/09/02/micro-hydro-plants-whic
h-lighted-up-rural-nepal-destined-for-oblivion
Rogelj, J., Shindell, D., Jiang, K., Fifita, S., Forster, P., Ginzburg, V., Handa,
C., Kheshgi, H., Kobayashi, S., Kriegler, E., Mundaca, L., S ́ef ́erian, R.,
and Vilari ̃no, M.V., 2018. Mitigation Pathways Compatible with 1.5◦C in
the Context of Sustainable Development. In: Global Warming of 1.5◦C.
An IPCC Special Report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5◦C
above pre-industrial levels and related global greenhouse gas emission
pathways, in the context of strengthening the global response to the
threat of climate change, sustainable development, and efforts to eradicate
poverty [Masson-Delmotte, V., Zhai, P., P ̈ortner, H.-O., Roberts, D., Skea,
J., Shukla, P.R., Pirani, A., Moufouma-Okia, W., P ́ean, C., Pidcock, R.,
Connors, S., Matthews , J.B.R., Chen, Y., Zhou, X., Gomis , M.I., Lonnoy,
E., Maycock, T., Tignor, M., and Waterfield, T. (eds.)]. In Press. Available
at: https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/sites/2/2019/02/SR15 Chapter
Low Res.pdf
The Kathmandu Post., 2018. Fuel import bill balloons to all-time high of
Rs. 131.93b, Published on June 12, 2018. Available at: https://kathma
ndupost.com/money/2018/06/12/fuel-import-bill-balloons-to-all-time-h
igh-of-rs13193b
UNCC (United Nations Climate Change). The Paris Agreement, Available at:
https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement/the-paris-ag
reement
D. D. Poudel
Upreti, B. N., 1999. An overview of the stratigraphy and tectonics of the Nepal
Himalaya. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences, 17(5–6), 577–606.
Wikipedia., 2021. List of power stations in Nepal. Available at: https://en.wik
ipedia.org/wiki/List of power stations in Nepal
Wildavsky, A., 1972. Why Planning Fails in Nepal, Administrative Science
Quarterly, Dec., 1972, Vol. 17, No. 4 (Dec., 1972), pp. 508–528 Published
by: Sage Publications, Inc. on behalf of the Johnson Graduate School of
Management, Cornell University Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stab
le/2393830
https://aeeeuropeenergy.com/