KATHMANDU: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli inaugurated the Green Hydrogen Production and Refueling Center at Kathmandu University (KU) in Dhulikhel as part of the university’s 29th Convocation Ceremony. During the event, he also unveiled and rode in a green hydrogen-fueled car with registration number Ba 1 Jha 1111.
PM Oli lauded KU's initiative as a model project and stressed the need for expanding such innovations, particularly in hydrogen-powered vehicles. He highlighted his previous advocacy for green hydrogen and wind power production and called for continued progress in these areas.
Associate Professor Biraj Singh Thapa explained that KU began researching green hydrogen fuel two years ago, achieving its first production on April 2, 2023. The Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) provided Rs 50 million for the project, including funding for the hydrogen-fueled car and the refueling center.
The hydrogen production involves electrolysis of water, with the process producing two kilograms of hydrogen daily using ten liters of water and 40-45 units of electricity per kilogram. The hydrogen car can travel up to 650 kilometers on a full tank, and KU plans to develop a pilot project to refuel 30 to 35 such cars, marking Nepal’s first initiative in hydrogen-powered transport.
