Kathmandtu, Feb. 27: Nearly 90 per cent of people live in the villages and 80 per cent of them depend on firewood accelerating forest destruction and disrupting environmental balance.

In the present situation in which 85 per cent of the total population are deprived of electricity, the renewable energy technology, if expanded to the rural areas, could open up new opportunities for development in the country.

This was stated in a day-long workshop on renewable energy technology jointly organised by the Centre for Energy Studies (ces) of Institute of Engineering (ioe) and the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre (aepc) here today.

Dean of the Institute of Engineering Prof. Dr. Jeevraj Pokhrel, while inaugurating the workshop, laid stress on the need of renewable energy technology for poverty alleviation and said the Institute of Engineering has a greater role to play in the development of technical education.

Ces director prof. J. N. Shrestha highlighted the need of energy in the economic activity, adding that such type of workshop would go a long way in narrowing the gap of existing misunderstanding between technical and administrative personnel.

Executive director of aepc Mr Shyam Lal Vaidya noted that the awareness programme such as this is very important for the overall development of alternative renewable technology in Nepal.

A total of 13 persons from His Majesty’s Government and Tribhuwan University took part in the workshop.