- A local factory owner running his plant of bio gas
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Kot Momin—There exists huge potential of Biogas production in the country, especially in rural areas, where the energy needs of domestic and industrial users can be met through this easily available and inexpensive source. this would also help reduce the energy shortages in the country. This was stated by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB), Mr. Arif Alauddin while briefing a team of journalists accompanying him on a visit to local Kino Factories.
Mr. Alauddin reiterated that the existing energy crisis in the country was more serious than anticipated; in fact, that was only one dimension of the picture, considering 40% people in Pakistan are without electricity and 60% without natural gas, and yet they pay five times more than the people in urban centres to meet their energy needs.He said that the country during the last three years made significant progress in power generation through alternative / renewable energy (ARE) resources including waste to energy / biomass. He said that private sector, local and foreign both were being facilitated for investment worth billions of dollars in ARE sectors annually, as Pakistan offered lucrative fiscal and financial incentives to investors in this sector.
He said that a World Bank funded project for carrying out detailed study for Biomass / Waste-to-Energy projects in 20 cities of Pakistan had been initiated. Technical proposals had been evaluated by AEDB, and are now awaiting the World Bank concurrence to award the project. Another Waste to Energy Study, funded by USTDA is being carried out for Karachi to generate 10 MW power. He said that AEDB had also issued a LoI to set up a 12MW Biomass to Energy power project in Sindh, based exclusively on Agricultural Waste. The project is jointly sponsored by investors from US and local entrepreneurs, the SSJD Bio Energy. Another LoI has been issued to M/s Lumen Energia Pvt Ltd. to set up an 11MW power plant at Jhang, based on Agricultural Waste like cotton stalk, rice husk, sugarcane trash / bagasse, wheat chaff and other crops as multi-fuel sources.
He further said that 85 sugar mills in Pakistan, possessing cumulative potential to generate up to 3000MW of power through Bagasse are being assisted / facilitated / encouraged to meet their power requirements through the resources already available with them. He recalled that 27 MW of Biomass / Waste to Energy plant was already operational, and PPA for 15 MW had been signed between PESCO and Al-Moiz Industries, D. I. Khan; a 7MW of Biogas / Waste to Energy projects’ PPA also signed between FESCO and Shakarganj Sugar Mills, Jhang. I addition to that 11 New Waste to Energy Projects (165 MW) awarded Generation License by NEPRA; Tariff for JDW Sugar Mills (Private) Limited, Mauza Sharin Jamaluddin Wali Rahim Yar Khan (Bagasse+Imported Coal) 80 MW granted; 14000 biogas plants are being installed through RSPN with the cost of Rs. 356 Million (Dutch Grant) in the country; 9 RDF / WTE plants are operational. 6 are in advanced stages of implementation in all the provinces.
Mr. Saleem Ranjha a senior government official, and local resident / farmer the moving spirit behind the effort to promote industrial and domestic uses of biogas in the tehseel Kot Momin has been supporting the AEDB endeavors. He told that there were around 250 registered kino factories in the area, and each of these factories requires 250-500kv of power to run a factory. And by meeting power requirements of these factories there required 6-12 mw of electricity for 5 months. By converting them on biogas the factories would not only meet their requirements through local resources but would be able to provide energy for the remaining 7 months for domestic / other uses in the area. The gas is also being used for cooking purposes, and a large number of households were now turning to biomass.
Mr. Arif said that Pakistan is the second largest cattle producing country in the world after India. AEDB along with other ARE technologies is The Sargodha district known for its milk and citrus producing potential would be provided to the local industrialists and growers. He appreciated the manufacturers of the machinery for their contribution in the RE sector.
He said that the kino sector, fetching over $100miliions’ foreign exchange to the country would be supported in adopting clean ARE technologies. He said that AEDB is looking into possibilities for quick deployment of biodiesel technology initially in Sargodha district, where besides kino chilling houses would take advantage of the technology for milk storage.
He said the residue that is left behind after processing of gas from gober (dung) is being used in the area as a fertilizer which had been giving excellent results in growth of plant / fruits.
A local factory owner running his plant of bio gas told that with a cost of only seven lacs of rupees his 200 kw generator / plant was running for 16 hours a day with a capacity of 70 heads dung. Previously, he was using 360 litre of diesel per day costing him around Rs. 36, 000 per day. Now he was saving 75% of diesel giving him a net saving of Rs. 27,000/ per day. He told that after installation of another plant of same capacity, which was under construction, he would be able to meet his 100% energy resources through biomass. He told that the fertilizer he was making had been used by farmers and found more effective than other urea /DAP.
