Sector Highlights

At present the paper industries in Nepal are producing mainly two types of product:

1. the bleached writing/printing (W/P) and Newsprint paper, 
2. the unbleached Kraft paper.

The papermaking fibers are locally produced based on non-wood pulp which is consumed about 63% and locally collected recycled papers, which is consumed about 37%.

According to Nepal Standard Industrial Classification 2101, the number of manufacturing unit of Pulp & Paper and Paper Board was 46 with employment of 2,035 persons (CBS, 2007). However, majority of them are handmade paper units and only six of them are mechanized pulp and paper mills. The seventh one has come into operation only after 2007.

Process

Major processes of paper production, are Raw Material Preparation, Pulping, Papermaking and Finishing. Raw material Preparation is concerned to cleaning, washing and screening. Pulping compromised of Cooking, Blowing, Washing, Screening, Centri-cleaning, and Decker (thickening). Papermaking is concerned to Bleaching, Mixing, Refining, mixing chest, Centri-cleaning, Paper making and finally finishing and packing.

Energy Use

Main sources of energy used in the pulp & paper industries in Nepal are electricity and rice husk. Rice husk is used for generation of steam for the production process and in some cases also for electricity generation in case the plant has a co-generation system. Approximate share of electricity is 18 %; while thermal energy amounts to 82 % of total energy consumption.