The per capita energy consumption for Bhutan was 0.63 tonne of oil equivalent (TOE) while the per capita electricity consumption was 1,174 kWh per year, according to the Bhutan energy data directory 2005, which was released yesterday in Thimphu.

The energy data directory, compiled by the department of energy with support from TERI, a non-profit Indian research institute, provides comprehensive information on energy supply, consumption, and energy balance of Bhutan, complete with analysis.

Divided into five chapters the directory looks at energy balance, supply situation, and demand of users, which are mainly the residential, industrial, agricultural, commercial and institutional, and the transport sector.
Residential sector consumed about 48.7 percent of the total energy consumed in the country. However, the reliance of the residential sector was more on fuel wood than on electricity with about 91 percent of the energy requirement met by wood.

The directory states that rural electrification has, however, brought about a decrease in fuel wood consumption in houses which have received electricity. These houses used 30 percent less wood compared with those which did not have electricity.

Dependence on fuel wood is expected to decrease with the success of the rural electrification project. The trade minister, Lyonpo Yeshey Zimba, who launched the directory jointly with the Indian ambassador, Mr. Sudhir Vyas, said that rural electrification was close to 60 percent at present. “In the next seven years 90 percent will be covered,” he said.

For the directory, a primary data collection including survey of energy use in 5,396 households from both rural and urban parts of all 20 dzongkhags were carried out over a period of two and a half years, and during different seasons to study variations, according to energy officials.

The director general of the department of energy, Dasho Sonam Tshering said the directory would give a feel of the energy consumption pattern of Bhutan and give guidance in taking measures, steps or framing policies related to energy.

The directory is a part of a bigger project, the integrated energy management master plan, which was seen necessary because of the increasing dependence on energy resources, both domestic as well as imported.

According to the Indian ambassador to Bhutan, the book was valuable because it will help in developing an energy policy for Bhutan. The Indian government provided an assistance of Nu. 85 million for the project.

Source:

Kuenselonline