The potential for enterprise level eCooking in Nepal
This study looks at identifying the opportunities and challenges for enterprise level transitions to eCooking.
Abstract
Nepal possesses abundant hydropower potential for electricity generation, presenting an opportunity to promote electricity as a modern cooking fuel for enterprises. Transitioning to electric cooking can help Nepal achieve its Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets, improve the well-being of cooks with safer options, and strengthen the nation’s energy security. Reducing dependence on LPG imports would also mitigate the risks of supply disruptions, price fluctuations/hikes, offering economic benefits. Thus, a shift to eCooking at the enterprise level holds substantial advantages from both a national and utility perspective. Within this context, this study focusses on identifying the opportunities and challenges for enterprise level transitions to eCooking.
The research assesses the extent of a possible shift to eCooking within enterprises and the assistance required for enabling transitions. For this study, a total of 162 enterprises across 5 enterprise categories (89 restaurants, 21 hotels, 19 canteens, 14 café/bakery shops, and 19 banquets) were surveyed inside the Kathmandu valley. Six ethnographic studies, a market survey and one focus group discussion were also conducted. Overall, the research findings indicate clear opportunities for electric cooking transitions in enterprises. A majority of the respondents from restaurants (70.8%), hotels (57.1%), canteens (57.9%), banquet (73.7%) and cafés/bakeries (78.6%) considered eCooking beneficial while most restaurants (52.8%), hotels (52.4%), and cafes (85.7%) stated their willingness to transition to eCooking although the percentage of canteens and banquets was less in comparison (26.3% and 31.6% respectively). In addition, most enterprises already used Cooking in some form, with the findings indicating larger transitions are feasible.
This paper is from the Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS) programme.
Citation
Dharel S, Aryal S, Timalsina K and Thakur A. The potential for enterprise level eCooking in Nepal MECS Report 2024