GIS Mapping Analysis of Energy Consumption Patterns in Nepal

Type Journal Article - Geographical Journal of Nepal
Title GIS Mapping Analysis of Energy Consumption Patterns in Nepal
Author(s)
Volume 7
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2009
Page numbers 41-52
URL http://www.nepjol.info/index.php/gjn/article/download/17442/14172
Abstract
This paper is an attempt to use computerized GIS tool to visual portray of consumption
of the main energy sources – firewood, electricity, kerosene and LPG at district level for
the whole country into four levels. A series of tables have also been constructed to
depict the average levels of consumption of those energy sources at regional levels. The
consumption patterns are that the firewood consumption has dominated over all the
energy sources, followed by kerosene, electricity and LPG. The firewood energy source
is the largest and available throughout the country. This can be explained by the extensive
forest coverage across the country, which is largest in the mountain districts. The
consumption patterns of electricity and LPG are more or less the same for the ecological
regions; with highest in the Tarai, while the mountain being the lowest. The country has
huge water reserviour for generating hydro electricity, but its consumption shares nearly
two and half less of the firewood, or half of the kerosene. The other two energy sources
- kerosene and LPG are to be imported.
Due to lack of time series data on household level energy consumptions, HDI has been
taken to predict the energy consumptions in the future. It shows that the household
proportion in consuming firewood will be decreased, signifying lessening burden on
forest resource. On the other hand, the household consumption of hydro electricity will
be increased, which will mean to increasing utilization of locally available water sources
and reducing a huge amount of transportation cost incurred for distribution of kerosene
and LPG particularly in the remote hill and mountain districts. But however, increasing
projected consumption of LPG would require foreign currencies in the future.

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