"We use bio briquettes for cooking so my family doesn't need LPG gas. It does not matter to me if there is shortage in the market," he sounds relaxed. In 2001 Laghali forest community in his locality decided to produce bio briquette (fuel from plants). He was one of the few members to take initiation for the production.
He is currently coordinator of Laghali Community Forest and Environment Development Committee and insists that the country should wake up now and think seriously about alternative energy.
"People are dying of hunger just because India is not supplying gas. Hotels and restaurants have closed down. The country's economy has been badly shaken. Yet, why are we not thinking of something like bio briquette and other means of alternative energy?" he said.
Following the promulgation of the new constitution in September, India imposed blockade on Nepal. The blockade has largely affected day to day life and economy of the country. The fuel crisis has affected the smooth supply of essential goods and even drugs to several parts of the country. Small and big hotels and restaurants have either closed down or shortened their menu in lack of fuel.
"We should be in position where we need not worry about what India does to us. If we talk about bio briquette, it is affordable and perfect for household use," he said. He added that many in his town have opted for bio briquette after the supply of LPG gas was obstructed. "The briquettes were sold off immediately. Presently we are finding it hard to meet market demands."
Shrestha says that they have been producing small and big bio briquettes. Big one works for two hours and smaller for one and half hour. "No matter how big family size, bio briquette works. Cook rice, pulse, vegetable or whatever you like, the flame works wonderfully," he suggested.
The products demand has increased outside Dharan recently. Locals of Itahari, Biratnagar, Damak and Dhankuta, among other places have been asking for bio briquette, Shrestha informed. Similarly, from Kathmandu alone, Shrestha has received order for around 5000 pieces of the product.
"Kathmandu is demanding one truck of this product. But we cannot meet the demand. We don't have that much of stock along with lack of transportation services," he said. Shrestha further informed that BP Koirala Memorial Hospital consumes much of his products. "The growing use of this in the hospital is because baby's massage is better with its heat than the heat produced from electric heaters," he explained.
Parts of bio briquette include iron frame and the materials made of plants that produce flame inside the frame. Ranmaya Pakhrin, Shrestha's production partner stated that the bio briquette is environment friendly and not expensive. "Its use is good for health and therefore considered best for babies. In winter, there's always high demand of bio briquette," she said.
Pakhrin also noted easy and safe use of bio briquette. "There is no danger of explosion unlike LPG cylinders. It's easy to use since we don't need to blow the flame time and again as in traditional firewood stoves," she said.
Even acquiring raw materials for the product is not much challenging. Decayed plants from forest are used for producing this product. "It takes three days to collect and properly dry the raw materials for producing briquette.
Shrestha and Pakhrin have created jobs for over a dozen of people in their factory. Interestingly, the business pays around 10 percent of the income to the forest community for the raw material. According to Shrestha, greater investment would certainly enable many others to expand the business. "The government should think of it," he opined.
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