Nepal 2019 Minamata Convention Initial Assessment (MIA) in Nepal Government of Nepal Ministry of Forests and Environment Singhadurbar, Kathmandu January 2019 Minamata Convention Initial Assessment (MIA) in Nepal ii Contact point responsible for this report Full name of institution Ministry of Forests and Environment Mr. Bipin Rajbhandari Under Secretary (Tech.) & Minamata Convention Focal Point, Contact person Environment Standard and Monitoring Section E-mail address [email protected] Telephone number +977-014211567 Fax number +977-014211868 Website of institution http://www.mofe.gov.np MOFE Project Team Mr. Yajna Nath Dahal, Joint Secretary (Tech.) & Chief of Biodiversity and Environment Division Mr. Bipin Rajbhandari, Under Secretary (Tech.) & Minamata Convention Focal Point Ms. Anuradha Gyawali, Chemist, MIA Desk Officer Mr. Tulsi Narayan Maharjan, Mechanical Engineer MIA Team Dr. Bhupendra Devkota, National Project Coordinator Mr. Santosh Shrestha, Expert, Waste and Contaminated Sites Mr. Prajjwal Raut, Expert, Industrial Sector Mr. Ram Charitra Sah, Expert, Health and Education Sector Ms. Doma Tshering Sherpa, National Project Assistant Minamata Convention Initial Assessment (MIA) in Nepal iii Table of Contents Abbreviations and Acronyms ............................................................................................................... viii Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................ xi Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 1 Chapter I .................................................................................................................................................. 4 1. NATIONAL BACKGROUND INFORMATION ...................................................................................... 4 1.1 Geography and population ..................................................................................................... 4 1.2 Political, legal and economic profile ....................................................................................... 5 1.3 Profiles of economic sectors ................................................................................................... 8 1.4 Environmental overview ....................................................................................................... 12 Chapter II ............................................................................................................................................... 15 2. Mercury Inventory and Identification of Emissions and Resources ............................................. 15 2.1 Summary of mercury releases, stockpiles, and supply and trade. ............................................. 28 2.1.1 Mercury release source types present ................................................................................ 28 2.1.2 Summary of mercury inputs to society ................................................................................ 30 2.1.3 Summary of mercury releases ............................................................................................. 34 2.1.4 Summary of mercury stockpiles, and supply and trade ....................................................... 39 2.2 Data and inventory on energy consumption and fuel production ............................................. 39 2.2.1 Other Coal uses .................................................................................................................... 39 2.2.2 Combustion of petroleum coke and heavy oil ..................................................................... 39 2.2.3 Combustion/use of diesel, gasoil, petroleum, kerosene, LPG and other light to medium distillates ....................................................................................................................................... 40 2.2.4 Biomass fired power and heat production .......................................................................... 40 2.2.5 Charcoal Combustion ........................................................................................................... 41 2.3 Data and inventory on domestic production of metals and raw materials ................................ 41 2.3.1 Primary Metal Production and Other Material Production ................................................. 41 2.3.2 Cement Production .............................................................................................................. 41 Minamata Convention Initial Assessment (MIA) in Nepal iv 2.3.3 Pulp and Paper Production .................................................................................................. 42 2.4 Data and inventory on domestic production and processing with intentional mercury use ..... 43 2.4.1 Battery with Mercury ........................................................................................................... 43 2.4.2 Paints with Mercury ............................................................................................................. 44 2.4.3 Skin lightening creams and soaps with mercury chemicals ................................................. 44 2.5 Data and inventory on waste handling and recycling ................................................................. 45 2.5.1 Question about general waste management setup ............................................................ 45 2.5.2 Production of Recycled of Metal.......................................................................................... 45 2.5.3 Waste Incineration ............................................................................................................... 45 2.5.4 Waste deposition/Land filling and Waste water treatment ................................................ 47 2.6 Data and inventory on general consumption of mercury in products, as metal mercury and as mercury containing substances ........................................................................................................ 49 2.6.1 General background data..................................................................................................... 49 2.6.2 Dental Amalgam fillings (silver fillings) ................................................................................ 50 2.6.3 Thermometers ..................................................................................................................... 52 2.6.4 Electrical Switches and Relays with mercury ....................................................................... 52 2.6.5 Light source with mercury ................................................................................................... 52 2.6.6 Batteries with mercury ........................................................................................................ 53 2.6.7 Polyurethane (PU, PUR) produced with mercury catalyst ................................................... 53 2.6.8 Paints with mercury preservatives....................................................................................... 53 2.6.9 Skin lightening creams and soaps with mercury chemicals ................................................. 54 2.6.10 Medical Blood Pressure Gauge (Mercury Sphygmomanometer) ...................................... 54 2.6.11 Other manometer and gauge with Mercury ...................................................................... 54 2.6.12 Laboratory Chemicals ........................................................................................................ 56 2.6.13 Other laboratory and medical equipment with mercury .................................................. 56 2.7 Data and inventory on crematoria and cemeteries .................................................................... 56 2.7.1 Crematoria and Cemeteries ................................................................................................. 56 2.8 Miscellaneous potential mercury sources not included in the quantitative inventory; with preliminary indication of possible presence in the country ............................................................. 57 2.8.1 Gold Plating .......................................................................................................................... 57 2.8.2 Semiconductor ..................................................................................................................... 57 2.8.3 Educational uses .................................................................................................................. 58 2.8.4 Religious Use ........................................................................................................................ 58 Minamata Convention Initial Assessment (MIA) in Nepal v 2.8.5 Traditional Medicine ............................................................................................................ 58 2.8.6 Army Installation .................................................................................................................. 58 2.8.7 Vacuum Pumps and Photographic paper ............................................................................ 59 2.9 Stocks of mercury and/or mercury compounds, and storage conditions .................................. 59 2.10 Supply and trade of mercury and mercury containing compounds, including sources, recycling activities and quantities ...................................................................................................................