KATHMANDU: Bharat Kumar Malla has been elected as the president of the Solar Electric Manufacturers Association Nepal (SEMAN). A new 16-member executive committee was elected at the Association’s 25th annual general meeting held in the capital on Wednesday.

Similarly, Deepak Gautam has been elected as the senior vice president, Rameshwor Wagle as the first vice president, Sudarshan Baniya as the second vice president, Netra Bahadur Khatri as the general secretary, Keshav Raj Sharma as the secretary, and Ram Prasad Koirala as the treasurer.

The election subcommittee stated that Rajendra Bahadur Khadka, Nistha Gautam, Bishow Shah, Krishna Raj Chudali, Yogendra Bahadur Shrestha, Dipak Raj Poudel, Tilak Lal Shrestha, Kumar Basnet, and Subodh Rimal have been elected as members in the SEMAN executive committee.

The newly-elected second vice-chair Sudarshan Baniya informed that the Association has been playing a role in providing services by carrying out electrification services in the health, education, irrigation, communication and drinking water sectors through solar energy. It has been also assisting in the domestic solar power systems, in accessible and remote areas, whether connected to the national power transmission line or not.

Established in August 2000 AD, SEMAN is an association of solar electric manufacturing and trading companies, which is capable of executing the PV, related works. It has already handled several PV related trainings like Solar Electric Technicians Level – I and Solar Electric Technician Level – II. It has also conducted several orientation trainings for school teachers and company staffs.

So far, 138 industries and companies are affiliated with SEMAN, which is celebrating its silver jubilee this year with various programs.