LAHORE: The textile industry, being predominantly export-oriented, is endeavouring to use biomass-based energy for continuous operations.

Some 67pc of processing mills have already started utilising biomass for heat energy for boilers, said All-Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma) International Trade Committee chairman Amir Fayyaz at a workshop organised in collaboration with GIZ on use of biomass for power generation under the auspices of Sustainable Production Centre (SPC) at a local hotel on Tuesday.

Stressing the need for sustainable consumption and production of energy, Mr Fayyaz said emphasis should be on energy conservation as well as utilising renewable sources.

The use for co-generating would minimise the energy security issues as huge potential of biomass sources including rice husk, wheat straw, bagasse and cotton stalks were in abundance throughout Pakistan.

“It is now time for the industry to find out solutions on energy security, affordability and sustainability. The government should also come forward with priority and policy to overcome the prevailing energy shortages for industry and enable it to undertake investment initiatives,” he said.

Later, three presentations on supply chain, project development and implementation of biomass project were made by Dr Ludovic Lacrosse and Dr Qyang-Cu Tran.

The GIZ consultants also presented the outcome of a study of three mills from spinning, weaving and processing and garment sectors focusing on the efficient use of biomass for boilers and power generation.

A large number of member mills attending the workshop showed keen interest in utilising biomass as a sustainable energy source.

Aptma, in association with the GIZ, has undertaken various initiatives on energy conservation and renewable energy since 2008. The GIZ has also assessed the biomass potential at a radius of 100 kilometres around Faisalabad.

Published in Dawn, August 27th, 2014