Innovation and technology development are government’s priority: Minister Dahal

Kathmandu- Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Devendra Dahal has said innovation and technology development are in the government’s priority.

Addressing the launching ceremony of a vehicle that can be operated by petrol and hydrogen here today, he expressed the government’s readiness to encourage alternative energy, technology and research for achieving the goal of a prosperous Nepal. The vehicle was developed by the Institute of Engineering, Pulchowk Campus.

Minister Dahal reiterated that the Ministry is moving ahead for making the necessary policy arrangements for the development and promotion of technology. “Nepal-like countries are suffering from the increasing global carbon emissions due to the industrialized nations. The environment from the Himalayas down to the seas is polluted due to this. Nepal should prepare itself to face such global challenges. For this, emphasis should be given to the promotion of environment-friendly and renewable fuel,” he said.

Ministry Secretary Keshav Kumar Sharma said the Ministry is ready to make the legal provisions for the industrial production and use of hydrogen. Dr Prakash Thapa, who led the project to develop the petrol and hydrogen-fueled engine, said the old petrol engine has been developed as a prototype for the first time to reduce the consumption of petrol by using hydrogen fuel.

According to him, hundreds of vehicles that are old and useless can be brought into use again through the development and expansion of this technology. Campus Chief Dr Indra Prasad Acharya, Assistant Dean Chinta Mani Pokharel, among the speakers stressed on encouraging Nepali technologists and technology. On the occasion, Minister Dahal, lawmaker Thakur Gaire and former Minister Karna Bahadur Thapa rode on the car using the petrol and hydrogen engine developed by using the ‘conversion technology’.

Nepal Electricity Authority Executive Director Kilman Ghising, experts on hydrogen fuel among others were also present on the occasion.