| Ok lets start with where Nepal is. Nepal is located | | | | ground. This takes the total cost from 10 dollars |
| between the two Asian giants of China and India | | | | to about 20 dollars. Many charities and for profit |
| and Nepal is often described as a yam between | | | | organisations are now using micro credit in order |
| two giant boulders. | | | | to help end users buy the product as they cannot |
| Kathmandu is the capital and is a haven for | | | | afford this 20 dollar purchase in one go. This |
| trekkers and tourists from all over the world | | | | would involve collecting 12 payments of about 2 |
| especially as the Himalayas and Mount Everest are | | | | dollars which pushes the cost to about 24 dollars |
| on the borders. | | | | as 12 journeys are needed to collect the |
| But Nepal is also the 12th poorest country in the | | | | payments. Micro credit has been made popular all |
| world as per the united nations development | | | | over the world by Grameen in Bangladesh and |
| index and suffers from acute shortages of | | | | KIVA in the USA. If you sell just one lantern per |
| electricity causing blackouts during both day and | | | | village then obviously it is not viable. If you sell 100 |
| night. | | | | lanterns per village then you can start to make |
| This leads me onto solar power and the current | | | | serious money! |
| usage by the population most of which is rural and | | | | In the next 5 years we hope to see an increase |
| dispersed. Under one percent of the population | | | | in the amount of solar products bought in Nepal |
| current uses solar power which can be used for | | | | via micro credit. Unfortunately, the political |
| cooking, heating homes and water and providing | | | | situation in Nepal makes it difficult but not |
| light. Solar water pumps can also be used instead | | | | impossible for private enterprises to flourish. |
| of handheld wells. | | | | Nationwide strikes are a monthly occurrence but |
| Companies should be looking at starting solar | | | | with an undeveloped market those businesses |
| lantern rental project in Nepal. Solar lanterns are | | | | with an eye for profit with a social conscience |
| increasingly popular in India and Bangladesh | | | | should not be put off as the bottom of the |
| especially as the price of solar lanterns have | | | | pyramid market has a potential two billion |
| decreased from 100 US dollars a number of | | | | customers many of which in developing markets |
| years ago to 10 to 40 dollars today. Dlightdesign | | | | with lots of sun and potential for solar power. |
| offer lanterns for just ten dollars. If an average | | | | Many trekking lodges in Nepal take advantage of |
| Nepali person uses a mixture of candles, batteries | | | | solar heating for water but solar cooking is more |
| and kerosene lanterns they often spend four | | | | popular in Africa due to the intense sun. Solar |
| dollars per month on this combination and the use | | | | lanterns and lights which are portable can be used |
| of solar power can lead to a huge increase in | | | | for school children studying and to increase |
| disposable income for the family once the cost of | | | | business when the power goes out. They also |
| the lantern has been repaid. | | | | offer a safer alternative as kerosene lamps can |
| The cost of the lantern is more than 10 dollars as | | | | be knocked over and create fires and the fumes |
| the cost of transportation from abroad to buy | | | | are also deadly. Solar lanterns are increasing in |
| the lantern has to be taken into account and the | | | | popularity in India especially the lanterns that can |
| cost of delivering this to the end use on the | | | | recharge mobile phones. |