Economic Growth Nepal Project #24174

Keeping the lights on in the Hidden Himalayas

by The Nepal Trust

Keeping the lights on in the Hidden Himalayas

Project Report | May 7, 2019
Spring has arrived.

By Tony Sharpe | Project Leader

A poor Humli family

Dear Friends and Supporters

The hard winter is now over and it is easier to get around in Nepal’s remotest district of Humla. Of course ‘easier’ is relative when walking is your only option. The lack of roads and the other infrastructures we are used to makes movement slow and laborious. This part of Nepal is also very poor and food deficient. More than 50% of children die in infancy and the average lifespan is only 58 years.

Once an economic powerhouse reliant on the salt trade from Tibet, finally succumbed to cheaper iodized Indian salt. Salt caravans are now a very rare sight.

The economy is slowly improving as tourism begins to take over and the area has become the official gateway to holy Mount Kailash in Tibet. This religious tourism is bringing many pilgrims from India and elsewhere to the region to fulfil a dream. Lodges and eating-places are popping up all along the main trail to cater for this demand. Renewable energy has become a very important source of electricity for the new economy and is expanding. It is also a clean energy that contributes to a healthier society

The Nepal Trust has been a leader in the development of this technology often in some of the most remote places. More have been installed by others but some are non-operational or only partially working due to a lack of effective maintenance.

The planned Renewable Energy Service Centre will facilitate the local maintenance of existing and future installations and offer much needed electrical, mechanical and related services, spares and repairs. It will provide the means for mountain villages to improve and sustain their livelihoods through clean energy technologies and to benefit from the consequent employment and business opportunities that develop alongside. Indirectly the Service centre project will also contribute to conserving the environment and forests that are depleting fast.

We are still in discussions with our chosen partner Ngo, LIDS, who will manage the Centre on our behalf. We hope to conclude our agreement over the next few weeks and then push ahead with the installation of machinery and equipment much, of which, will have to be sourced from India. We apologise for the apparent slowness but things do take time in this remote part of the world. A sick man in Humla may have to walk 2 days to get help but getting there is the most important thing! I hope to have some real positive progress by the next report.

Thanks to you all for your support and patience. We hope you will remain with us and pass on the news to your friends. Climate change and the damage to our environment are very much in the news these days. Your continued support and help will be a contribution to helping solve some of these issues.

On the trail to Mount Kailash

Clean light

A Microhydro installation

Help the children

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Feb 7, 2019
A Hard Winter

By Tony Sharpe | Project Leader

Enjoying the Snow.

Dear Friends and Supporters

Humla is still in the grip of a hard winter. Deep snows have isolated villages and blocked trails and made it even more difficult to move around and communicate. Of course, this is not unusual at these elevations but this winter has been exceptional. The people are very adaptable and mainly cope but, sometimes, it is very difficult. Communications are a problem particularly for the only transport means by light aircraft. Walking far is not an option. Cell phones are now everywhere but they cannot bring in the food and medical supplies!

As soon as the weather improves we will push ahead with the final development and opening of our Renewable Energy Service Centre. We have agreed an operational plan with our chosen implementation partner Local Initiative Development Support Consultancy Agency (LIDS). The Nepal Trust will retain ownership of the facility and will fund one technician for the first two years (LIDS will fund a second one). We will also supply all the initial office and mechanical equipment.

LIDS will be expected to run a commercial business and the local communities will pay commercial rates. The service will also include advice to communities on how and where to source funding. After the initial 2 year phase lease renewal will be on a 3 year cycle.

At the present time the Trust is sourcing plant and materials much of which may have to come from India. I hope that by the next report we will have good news that the Centre is almost ready to go. After a hard winter there will probably be much to do servicing and repairing the many hydro and solar installations in the district.

We are still looking for your help and hope that you will continue to support this important economic project. Funds are required for the fitting out and start up phase. Thank you so much for all your support and interest and do, please, pass on the news to your friends and colleagues. The people of Humla already have a negligable carbon footprint let's make it a positive one!

Namaste

Chyaduk MHP

Chyaduk MHP installation

Nepal Trust team with Ghoti MHP committee.

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Nov 12, 2018
There is definitely more light!

By Tony Sharpe | Project Leader

Children in Simikot

Dear friends and supporters.

Our 5 year Project Agreement with the government has now been approved and we can now look forward to moving ahead with the implementation of the new innovative Renewable Energy Service Centre. This unique and important project is needed badly in the remote region of the Hidden Himalayas. RE projects that break down very often are never repaired due to lack of skills and resources.

The Nepal Trust have been drivers in the push to establish RE projects throughout the district and have set high standards for others to follow. However, the cost of repair and maintenance has been high due to having to import the necessary skills and spare parts. The idea of having a Service Centre is to reduce this cost and to have at hand all the required skills and parts to provide servicing and repairs throughout the district.

It is worth summarising what the Nepal Trust has achieved over recent years and why we have received international recognition for our work and innovation. We have built 7 Micro-hydro schemes for 8000 beneficiaries and 11 Community Solar projects benefitting 4500 people. We have also provided solar energy schemes to the local hospital, guest houses, and health centres. We have installed 7 Food Grinders and 2 Oil press machines. Other agencies have built schemes that more than double our figures. The Service Centre has been built and serviced with power and water and is near ready for operation.Our chosen local NGO is Local Initiative Development Support Consultancy Agency (LIDS) who will be responsible for the operation and management. The Trust will retain a responsibility for the provision of electrical, mechanical, civil and technical/support materials over the implementation phase of 5 years with a phase out period over 10 years. We will not run away!

I am very excited about this project and I hope you are too. Renewable energy is good for the planet and good for the people of this remote region who are never likely to be linked up to national grid. I want to thank you for all your support and encouragement and I hope you will continue to help in some way. Tell your friends about us and encourage them to support these very remote and very poor people. At the same time you will be helping to slow down global warming and climate change. Now that is some target!

Namaste

Chyaduk MHP Power house

Kermi MHP Power House

Solar lamp

Solar installation

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