Hari Shankar Sah, 42, has been running the “Jeet Shankhar” hotel at the busy Birgunj bus park for the past 20 years and has employed 7 individuals through his enterprise. Over the years, he relied on charcoal and Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders to cook meals, but the rising cost of LPG, at Rs.1900 per cylinder and smoke from the coal was becoming a burden. Each cylinder lasted only 2 weeks making it an expensive necessity.  

Five months ago, Sah heard about the Metallic Improved Cooking Stove (MICS) through a marketing campaign which was organized by Husk Power Nepal. Hopeful of decreasing his energy costs, he decided to purchase one of these Husk Power manufactured MICS. These stoves utilize pellets as a fuel source, which burn efficiently thanks to the fan attachment. “The fan provides optimum airflow and reduces smoke” Sah said. “Even if there is a power cut, the battery backup ensures the fan operates, this is the best part” he adds. 

He invested Rs. 28,000 in the stove and quickly found it to be a wise decision. He was able to reduce his energy costs significantly. “This stove has proved to be very efficient; for the same cost as one LPG, I am able to run this stove for one 45 days” he said. With this switch, Sah will now use 8 cylinders annually saving Rs.30,400 and reduding his dependence in the imported fossil fuel.  Since his switch to MICS, Sah has not only saved money but also improved the working environment for his staff. “We have stopped using charcoal, which produced a lot of smoke,” Sah added. His staff has also appreciated the MICS and has been urging him to invest in another stove, which will make their work faster and cleaner. 

Beyond the immediate benefits, Sah’s switch to MICS also supports broader environmental goals. Efficient cooking techniques like the MICS help reduce harmful emissions and dependence on imported fossil fuels. This shift is crucial for Nepal, as reducing fossil fuel consumption means lower greenhouse gas emissions, improved air quality, and a step towards energy independence.   

Shah hopes that other hotel owners like himself will see the benefits of MICS and consider making the switch. He believes that small changes like this will have a big impact on his business. “As a hotel owner, I will always look forward to technologies that help me save money. I have found that in this stove,” he said.   

MICS is a part of projects that promote renewable energy cooking technologies awarded by the government of Nepal’s Sustainable Energy Challenge Fund (SECF). So far, more than 31 MSMEs and 76 households have benefitted from MICS under different porjects. SECF, a viability gap funding mechanism embedded within the Central Renewable Energy Fund (CREF), a financial mechanism of the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre, was established and operationalized with funding support from the UK in Nepal and technical assistance from NREP.