PCJCCI chief for JVs with China to generate energy through biomass resources

LAHORE: S M Naveed, President Pakistan-China Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCJCCI) has suggested joint ventures with China for energy generation through biomass resources to meet energy needs of the industry.

While addressing a meeting of the Energy Committee of his chamber he said that biomass is not limited to habitat and animal waste but also includes feed stocks, such as agricultural stalk, straw and trash, agro-industrial, paddy husks and shells. The total estimated biomass potential of Pakistan is 50,000 GW h/year, which can contribute up to 36% of the total nation’s energy, he said adding that China is paving its way in biomass power generation by putting efforts to increase financial support for biomass power generation projects, boosting the application of biomass energy and encouraging localities to establish a system for collection, storage, transportation and treatment of agricultural and forestry waste as well as household waste.

Daud Ahmed, Senior Vice President PCJCCI, expressing his views on the subject, said that Chinese expert and investors are ready to have joint ventures in Biomass Energy Generation projects. He urged to lay down policy incentives to encourage energy generation through biomass. He pointed out the rapidly growing population and economy,

Speaking on this occasion, Khalid Raffique Chaudhry, Vice President PCJCCI said that the sources of renewable energy are hydel, solar, wind and biomass, which has significant potential to compete with growing energy requirements. Thus far, Pakistan envisions setting up plants to generate 10,000 MW through renewable resources by 2030. These plants will be installed with a 50% share of the beneficiary. Out of all the renewable energy resources, biomass is considered the best and most easily accessible source of energy with its unique environmentally friendly nature. Pakistan’s energy needs had increased manifold and to resolve these serious issues, we need to promote new and renewable energy technologies in Pakistan, he said.

Salahuddin Hanif, Secretary General PCJCCI said that rural areas of Pakistan are replete with a variety of biomass resources (animal dung waste, MSW, agri-industrial, and agricultural waste), which can be used to produce about 12 million cubic meters of biogas per day, which is enough to fulfill the energy requirements of 28 million rural people. Currently, Pakistan possesses 5,357 operational biogas units, with a varying production capacity of 3–15 m3/day; against the targeted total biogas potential of 12–16 million m3/day, he added.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021