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RAWALPINDI, April 18: In order to overcome energy crisis, the government should utilise agricultural waste to produce bio-ethanol and bio-diesel by installing the plants for the purpose.
The experts put forward the suggestions on Wednesday during a three-day International Bio-energy Conference organised by Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi (PMAS-AAUR) in collaboration with Higher Education Commission (HEC).Dr Manzoor Hussain Somroo, Chairman Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) was the chief guest of the inaugural session. While speaking on the occasion, he stressed that scientists should provide solution to energy crisis in the country. He appreciated the efforts of the conference organisers and assured that PSF would help arrange such events in future.
Other bio-technology experts including Dr Irini Angelidaki from Denmark, Dr Asgher Bajwa, Prof Dr M Gulfraz, Dr M Mushtaq, Dr S M Saglain, Dr Nosheen Fatima, Dr Farzana Siddiqui, Raja Tahir, Zahid Anwar, Ms Hira Malik, and Ms Hira Tariq delivered their lectures.
They said that in countries like Pakistan, agricultural waste was the most efficient and cheap alternative to thermal power if converted into bio-ethanol and bio-diesel that would significantly reduce the oil import bill of the country.
After the defence spending, they said, the big chunk of national budget was allocated for import of fuel for generating energy from thermal sources as only 30 per cent of energy was being produced from water.'If we produce bio-diesel and bio-ethanol, the oil import bill can be reduced by 60 per cent.
The biogas can also replace CNG and produce electricity. It is something easy and affordable but needs will of the government,' Prof Dr Gulfraz Satti, Chairman IIUI Biochemistry Department said in his remarks.
He said that agriculture waste was not being exploited as the country had no plant to convert the rich resource into energy.
