Kathmandu University and Nepal Oil Corporation sign an MOU

On 08th January 2021 Kathmandu University (KU) and Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) signs an MOU to foster mutual interest in the field of fuel and energy sector development and contribution to increased cooperation between academic institutions and government corporations.

The MOU has been signed by Dr. Bahadur Nepali, Dean of School of Engineering, KU, and Er. Deepak Baral, Director, NOC.

The MOU is has established the foundations for collaboration in the following disciplines:

1. Provide engineering and consulting services to update and match the standards at NOC to meet International practices.
2. Industrial/Commercial applications of Digitalization
3. Capacity development and knowledge transfer
4. Technical, commercial, economic, and legal feasibility for exploration, production, and distribution of petroleum products and Alternative energy including hydrogen and other gas in Nepal.
5. Research and Pilot-scale demonstration for technology transfer and local adaptation for commercialization.

NOC is still known as a company that buys fuel from India and sells it in the Nepali market. With this MOU, the corporation has opened up the new possibility to investigate and invest in Green Hydrogen as the Alternative and Future fuel for Nepal.

The MoU between NOC and KU is important in the development of technology that can produce green hydrogen from electricity. There have been discussions of electricity going to be surplus soon in the future and the investment in the hydropower sector will be badly affected if the plans and preparations for its alternative use are not done timely.

After the agreement, KU will also provide the necessary engineering consultancy for relevant project activities currently being operated by the corporation.