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 | Nov 17, 2017
Slowly.

By Tony Sharpe | Project Leader

Helicopter arrives with hydro parts.

Dear Friends and Supporters. Since our last report progress has been a little slow. Funds have been slow to materialize to complete the fitting out of this unique and much needed project. An earlier report highlighted the agreement we have made with our chosen partner who, having the necessary skills, will operate and manage this project. The Renewable Energy Service Centre will be partly subsidised by the Nepal Trust for an initial period but it is intended that the Centre will eventually run on a commercial basis to ensure viability and a sustainable future. We are still in discussion with our partner - Local Initiative Development Support Consultancy Agency (LIDS) - to draw up a full legal agreement. In Nepal this always takes time and winter is now drawing close.

It is worth looking back to why we need such a centre. When the Nepal Trust first went to Humla in 1994 there was virtually no renewable energy resource available. Simikot had a bank of solar panels that were available to only government offices. A small hydro scheme built by a bi-lateral agency just south east of Simikot had broken down and no longer worked. It remained that way because no one came back to fix it. This sort of problem existed elsewhere in Nepal and very often as the result of a simple malfunction - perhaps a $10 fuse! A problem for local villagers who could not isolate or fix it for themselves and a $200 flight to bring in a trained technician which they could not afford.

Over the following years there has been a steady increase in the number of renewable energy installations both solar and micro-hydro. The Nepal Trust alone has installed both hydro and solar to provide electricity, light and power, to over 1500 households and 10000 people. In addition we have provided power sources to schools, health clinics, community centres, monasteries, mills and economic development resources such as the Great Himalayan Trail, the greatest trekking trail in the world. We can proudly say that everyone of our installations is still working because we are there and respond to problems and requests. Not so for others who build and then go away. However it is very important that we build sustainability in to the system and that is why the Service Centre idea has come in to being. We have the skills but we still need some funding to complete the dream.

For this idea and the work we have already achieved bringing renewable energy to the Hidden Himalayas we were recognised for a major environmental prize, the PremioItalgas prize for Projects in the Environment. This sums up our dedication and committment to bringing health and opportunity to this remote part of the world.

Thanks for your help and support and we hope you will help us to get over the finishing line. Perhaps you have friends or know someone whose passion is saving the planet or who works in the renewable energy industry. They just might want to help and support this amazing and unique project.

Namaste

Ghoti micro-hydro inaugarated

Solar Lamps for the first time

No smokey lamps now!

Ghoti MHP operators in discussion

Chyaduk MHP

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Aug 21, 2017
Keeping the Lights Burning in The Hidden Himalayas

By Tony Sharpe | Project Leader

Looking up the Ghoti valley

A report by Dr Mike Love, Chairman The Nepal Trust UK.

Almost 20 years ago we were standing on the trail in the Karnali valley and looking up at the first electric light twinkling high above us at the newly commissioned Nepal Trust health post in Kermi in the remote NW Humla district of Nepal: it was with hindsight a very special moment.

Supplying these remote communities with the means to generate electricity is truly transformational: obviously light to see at night rather than using smoky candles and lamps makes a big difference, but the real impact is the means to recharge batteries. So much of modern life revolves around recharging: phones to communicate; smart phones and computers for email and internet access; larger batteries for satellite TV for information and education; hand held torches; and of course hand held power tools to carry out many of life’s daily tasks.

This year along with two board colleagues, we undertook a 10 day trek to revisit the biggest renewable energy scheme that the Nepal Trust constructed almost 10 years ago: the Ghoti Kola 50kw micro hydro facility that provides electricity to the three main villages in the Ghoti valley.

The system was handed over to the community in 2009 and has been operational ever since: led by the two operators we scrambled down the steep hill side to the building that hosts the turbine unit and generator units nestling beneath the great waterfall.

It was a very positive experience. The facility looked the best maintained of all of the micro hydro schemes we have installed over the years and the operators were well on top of the basic procedural issues associated with the safe running and operation of the system. However it also brought home the truly immense challenge of keeping the lights burning. Understanding and appreciating the importance of pro-active maintenance; sourcing a supply of the correct grease for lubricating the bearings; persuading the community to find the cash to invest in a stock of spares; accessing technical knowledge and repair capability. The Service Centre we are building and which we will report on shortly will, we hope, over the next 10 years be the key to further positive progress.

In any event well done to the team at Ghoti: keep the lights burning.

Another example of how change affects the lives of these remote people is a recent request from the village committee in Limi situated in the beautiful but very remote Limi valley, bordering Tibet. One of three villages in this magical place it freezes up in the winter and the hydro power system has to be shut down. Solar panels provide power during these cold months. After the recent winter the system failed to restart. The villagers have tried everything they know and have finally requested the Nepal Trust to help them out. Of course, this scheme is one of our earlier projects and we will help to sustain it but it is a very good example of why it is so important to get our new Service Centre up and running for long term sustainability.

We hope you will continue to support this project which impacts so heavily on the lives and the future of these remote communities. If they are to have a future at all then they must have access to clean renewable energy that will provide them with many of the things we take so much for granted. Clean, green power doesn't just provide light at night and power through the day it provides a healthy environment to bring up their kids. We all want that.

Thank you for your support for this essential project. Please talk to your friends about us and what we are trying to achieve. Friends, colleagues and businesses who themselves try to lead a lean, green lifestyle may be interested in supporting us.

Namaste.

Ghoti village

Ghoti power house nestling below waterfall

Ghoti power house operators

Inspecting penstock and spillway above Ghoti PH.

Request from Limi committee for help.

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May 23, 2017
An Agreement Reached.

By Tony Sharpe | Project Leader

Agreement reached with LIDS

Dear friends and supporters. My apologies for the delay in submitting this report. I only returned 2 days ago from a month long fact finding tour of all our projects in Nepal. This included visits to our earthquake support area in Sindupalchowk and Helambu, education projects on the Terai and Baglung areas and our core project area of Humla in the remote northwest of the country, aptly named 'The Hidden Himalayas'.

The latter area is where our 'Keep the Lights on' project is situated in the district headquarters of Simikot. As of now the only way to get to Humla is to walk in or take a light aircraft - if the flying conditions are good! Nevertheless, over 50000 people live in this remote and beautiful region bordering Tibet. For many the living conditions are still a bit medieval but everywhere you go you can see some signs of improvement in living conditions and the general health of the population.

Much of this improvement can be put down to the introduction of clean renewable energy in the form of solar and hydro sources. Smokeless stoves have been introduced which are not only more efficient and use less fuel but provide a cleaner, healthier environment within the home. The impact on forest deforestation has also been reduced. The Nepal Trust has been a leader for over 15 years in this little revolution and has constructed many hydro and solar schemes throughout the district. Others have followed suite and it is now quite common to see, in the evening, electric light twinkling in distant mountain side villages.

However, the Nepal Trust has been aware for many years the need to keep these lights on. Repairs and maintenance are a problem requiring knowledge and expertise. The nearest resources are a plane ride away near the Indian border and generally beyond the means of poor mountain people. So when a scheme breaks down it is a serious problem and a step back to the dark ages.

That is why the Trust came up with the idea to establish a Renewable Energy Service Centre in Simikot to provide the skills and management procedures necessary to keep the lights on. The building is now complete and ready for fitting out. The Trust has the necessary building and financial resources for start-up but not the management skills to operate the Service Centre (SC) for the long-term. I am delighted to tell you that we have identified and come to an agreement with a local NGO to operate the SC on a renewable 3 year lease. The Local Initiative Development Support Consultancy Agency (LIDS) is our chosen partner. From Humla, it is staffed by fully qualified engineers and management experts and possesses all the necessary skills to operate such a business. It lacks the financial resources to set-up on its own but in partnership with the Trust there is every sign that the SC will be a success. This is a totally unique project in Nepal and will set an example for many similar projects elsewhere in Nepal.

We still need some funds to complete the initial fitting out and I hope you can continue to support us or tell your friends about us and encourage them to help this unique and very positive project. If you hurry you can still get a 60% match to your donation, plus GiftAid!

On all our behalfs thank you so much for your support and we hope you will continue to help.

Electric light, solar lamp and smokeless stove

Our new school at Kapil Bastu, fully electrified!

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