GACC Representative visits CRT/N

Dr. Ranyee Chiang, Technical Manager at Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves visited CRT/N on 14 August 2013. Mr. Lumin Kumar Shrestha Officiating ED welcomed her with brief introduction to CRT/N with its brief history and role it has played in the country’s renewable energy sector. Then, Mr. Basudev Upadhyay, RTKC Coordinator at CRT/N continued the CRT/N’s strategic functions in the renewable energy sector along with information on the organizational assets and initiatives. This was followed by RTKC milestone presentation. RTKCs up to date activities were shared coupling with associated discussions and clarifications in between. The chronological updates of RTKC activities were appreciated. Collaboration aspect of CRT/N as a whole and RTKC specifically was briefed by officiating supervisor, Mr. Subarna Kapali. The role of partners at various levels of stove implementation process and collaboration among various testing centers were the efforts shared here.

During the conversation several quarries were raised by Ranyee. Among them the future activities of the grant period were discussed for their purpose and scope. For the first years remaining activities, ICS Regional Network Building Workshop was the major topic of discussion. The purpose should not just be limited to sharing on what RTKC’s around the region have been doing. Some kind of research papers presentation along with training on some specific topics (to be identified..) would be more meaningful and interesting. Not necessary to follow the time line activities as they were proposed in the proposal. The activities can be reframed depending on the present necessity to achieve the overall goal of RTKC. In this regard RTKC team has agreed to discuss within the team and propose through email. Our multi-partner workshop recently concluded was highly appreciated. In the meantime RTKC’s 5 year road map was also briefly shared.In this regard, Ranyee has agreed to connect some Knowledge Management related people at GACC. One important issue Ranyee raised was on sharing the test results from the laboratory that purposively depends on the clients’ interest. Prior to sharing we need to have consent from the clients.  Besides Testing,  Ranyee also figured out that RTKC can become the leading knowledge partner for the Government of Nepal’s Energy sector. So activities relating to research and development should be prioritized that can influence the national policies in long run.

Dr. Chiang also seemed contended with the RTKC team as she mentioned the testers in the lab are women which was the exception among other RTKC’s. Sharing experience of her visit to other RTKC’s around the globe, Bolivia and Honduras have similar issues of Nepal and it would be fruitful to link up with them regarding protocol developments and testing on the high altitude stoves (Bolivia) and fixed types of stoves (Honduras). IIT Delhi is well equipped in context to laboratory set up and would be good to visit it. Dr. Chiang was also concerned about the RTKC advisory group. 

Dr. Chiang also visited RTKC lab. The team then moved to AEPC for the afternoonevent “Idea Sharing on Improving Protocols” at about 13:30 PM. 

Talk Programme - Idea Sharing on Improving of Stoves Testing Protocols

The programme was jointly organized by CRT/N and AEPC. It was attended by over 35 participants mostly Policy session attendees of the National Workshop on Standards and Testing of Cookstoves in Nepal held on 25 July 2013 at Hotel Himalaya.

The programme started with welcome remarks from AEPC ED, Prof. Dr. Govinda Raj Pokhrel where he highlighted the role of AEPC and CRT/N on materializing the ambitious mission of clean cooking solution for all by 2017. This was continued by the presentation on Recent Development in Nepal on Cookstoves Sector and Importance of Testing and quality assurance in NRREP context by Asst. Director AEPC Mr. Nwaraj Dhakal.

The following was the presentation on the National Workshop on Standards and Testing of Cookstoves in Nepal that took place on 25 November 2013 by RTKC coordinator, Mr. Basudev Upadhyay. With the brief introduction of the workshop main issues and responses were presented with the conclusion on the outcome of the workshop.

This was followed by Dr. Chiang’s updates on recent global developments on standards and Testing of cookstoves.

This was followed by discussions. The unanswered issues of the workshop were put forth for discussion. Some of the issues that came up were:

Weather Nepal should try to propose its own protocols and standards or not

For instance follow the international guidelines and opt for their own protocols and standards once enough knowledge and expertise is gained in near future. We still have long way to go to provide our feedback to international community like ISO.

NBSM strongly advocated for the National standards and that is possible to attain through National stakeholders support. The testing centers should put forth the requirements and suggest NBSM to work on it as NBSM doesnot have enough knowledge and expertise on the cookstoves sector. But jointly it can be developed.

The programme concluded with concluding remarks and summary of the programme by Mr. Nawaraj Dhakal.