RTKC Nepal Materialized - The Initiation

RTKC entrance

RTKC - an initiative to improve technology, communicate performance and promote sales and adoption of clean cooking devices promoting research and development of cookstoves in Nepal and the region is funded by Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves (GACC) and hosted by Centre for Rural Technology, Nepal (CRT/N). The RTKC is developing into an independent and internationally recognized stove testing service provider moving ahead with the mission of establishing itself into a cen

tre of excellence in biomass knowledge and stoves testing sector using globally accepted testing procedures for Nepal and the South Asian region.

The project started in November 2013 and a number of activities have been accomplished with in the period. The initial activities such as identifying/locating the laboratory equipments, staffs recruitments and reconstruction of RTKC laboratory took place during the early inception period of the project.

Knowledge Centre

With necessary supports from Associate Professor Dr. Tami Bond, University of Illinois an International Consultant for RTKC Nepal and Aprovecho Research Centre (ARC), Oregon the equipments were identified and processed for procurement during the first few months of inception. Laboratory Emission Measurement System (LEMS) a product of ARC was ordered.

Mr. Hari Gopal Gorkhali, RTKC Supervisor attended the EPA Intensive Training for Cookstoves Testing at Triangle Park North Carolina during 28 January to 1  February 2013 on GACC’s invitation along with 40 stove testers, researchers, developers and implementers from sixteen different countries. The training was focused on extensive formal and informal discussions on laboratory set‐up, maintenance, calibration and management; laboratory safety; quality assurance project plans; fuel measurements; field equipment set‐up; strengthening collaboration and knowledge sharing between testing centers; data processing and analyses. This had really been fruitful to start up the project at CRT/N.

RTKC Nepal aims to be a centre of excellence in the field of cookstoves testing and a knowledge centre promoting research and development of cookstoves in Nepal and the region. The future plans include the wider networking and up scaling collaboration with global partners to establish itself as a sustaining entity. The baseline activities to obtain this have been to have well trained staffs and well equipped laboratory to provide service to clients and develop/share knowledge products and projects to support research and development.