Nepal-Made Gas-Powered Cremation Machine Successfully Tested in Banepa, Promising Cleaner Funerals

 

Kathmandu. A gas-powered cremation machine developed by the National Innovation Center has successfully undergone its first test in Banepa, Kavrepalanchok, marking the first use of a domestically built cremation system in Nepal.

The machine was used to cremate a body at Tindobato Ghat in Banepa on Thursday. According to the center, the body was reduced to ashes in about an hour, demonstrating the effectiveness of the locally developed technology.

Designed by engineer Raju Thapa, the machine can complete the cremation process in 45 minutes to an hour, significantly reducing the time required compared to traditional wood-fired pyres, which typically take three to five hours.

“The trial took about an hour because the body had been preserved with ice. Under normal conditions, cremation can be completed in 45 to 50 minutes,” Thapa told Techpana.

The machine is equipped with a filtration system that, according to the developer, absorbs more than 90 percent of smoke and odor generated during cremation. Thapa said the technology showed no noticeable adverse environmental impacts during the test.

Operating at temperatures between 900 and 1,200 degrees Celsius, the machine consumes an average of two to three LPG cylinders per cremation. The estimated fuel cost ranges from Rs 6,000 to Rs 7,000.

The National Innovation Center said the machine was built at a cost of around Rs 2.5 million, substantially lower than imported cremation systems, which have previously cost about Rs 10 million in Nepal. While the machine's frame and body were manufactured domestically, high-temperature burners and fire-resistant bricks were imported from India.

According to the center, a similar machine would cost around 3 million Indian rupees (approximately Rs 4.8 million) in India.

Mahabir Pun said the machine was developed with the objective of providing a public service and reducing environmental impacts rather than generating profit.

The fully automated system includes a body-lifting mechanism, automatic doors, safety alarms and an automatic shutdown feature that activates in the event of a gas leak or burner malfunction.

“You don't need many people to operate it. Once the body is placed inside and the door is closed, the machine performs the process automatically and alerts operators when it is complete,” Thapa said.

Following the successful trial, the center has begun receiving inquiries and orders from other locations. Thapa said an order has already been received for a diesel-powered version of the machine for Dharan, and plans are underway to expand the technology to cremation sites across the country.

The machine has also been designed to operate in areas with limited electricity supply through battery backup or a single-phase power connection.

The Banepa installation was carried out with support from Banepa Municipality and local donors. Thapa expressed confidence that wider adoption of the technology could help reduce air pollution along riverbanks and decrease dependence on firewood for cremations, contributing to forest conservation efforts.

पछिल्लो अध्यावधिक: जेठ २९, २०८३ १३:११

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