Sectoral energy consumption 2005

January 14: The Department of Energy of the Ministry of Economic Affairs has released the first comprehensive data directory on the energy sector in Bhutan.

The Bhutan Energy Data Directory 2005 was prepared as part of the Integrated Energy Management Master Plan. The Directory and the master plan were discussed at a workshop held here in the capital recently.

According to the Bhutan Energy Data Directory 2005, the total primary energy consumption in Bhutan during 2005 has been estimated at 323, 367 TOE, that is tones of oil equivalent.

According to the directory, Bhutan has the highest per capita electricity consumption of 1174 kilowatt hour per year in the South Asia region. The residential sector was the highest energy consuming sector, accounting for 48.7% of the total energy consumption.

The industrial sector consumed 25% of the total energy and is the largest consumer of electricity in the country.

With the rapid pace of economic development in the kingdom, experts say the dependence on energy has been increasing.

The department of energy says the supply of energy includes imported fossil fuels that have a huge impact on the country’s limited resources. The data directory will give a better understanding of the energy scenario in Bhutan and serve as a reference guide for planners and policy makers.

The Integrated Energy Management Master Plan Project comprises of various studies related to energy in Bhutan. Consultancy on the project was provided by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) in New Delhi, India.

The studies carried out during the project found that the main source of primary energy in Bhutan is fuel wood from forests. The country consumed more than 724,000 tones of fuel wood in 2005 which accounted for 57.7% of the total primary energy supply.

In his foreword in the Bhutan Energy Data Directory 2005, the Director General of TERI, Dr. R K Pachauri says since Bhutan is endowed with rich natural forests, it faces the complex challenge of implementing development plans in a manner that conserves the wealth of nature spread across the Kingdom.

The integrated approach adopted in the energy master plan also suggests various policy options for the development of sustainable energy sector for the kingdom.

The Integrated energy Management Master Plan Project is funded by the government of India.