LAHORE: Biogas promises a versatile solution to emerging energy challenges and offers environmental, economic and social benefits. Pakistan can ensure a sustainable energy future, increase energy availability, and reduce the adverse effects of climate change by using more organic waste.
Federation of South and Central Asian Engineering Institutions, Secretary General Engr. Sultan Mahmood said this at the presentation ceremony of Iftikhar Ali Malik, former president of the SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry here on Tuesday.
He said biogas from animal manure, agriculture and food waste offers several advantages that make it an ideal energy solution for Pakistan.
Engr Sultan said that Pakistan has a large agricultural sector that generates large amounts of organic waste that can be used for biogas production. Also, by tapping this rich resource, Pakistan can reduce its dependence on imported fossil fuels, thereby saving foreign exchange and improving energy security.
According to him, biogas production contributes to waste management by moving organic waste from landfills, which releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere. Instead, this waste is converted into biogas through anaerobic digestion, reducing methane emissions and reducing environmental pollution.
He said energy production could be decentralized and produced locally, providing power to rural communities. This decentralized approach suits Pakistan’s rural landscape, where access to centralized energy infrastructure is limited. By setting up small-scale biogas digesters in farms and households, they can produce their own clean energy, increase energy access and promote local development.
Eng Sultan Mahmoud concluded that biogas production creates opportunities for economic development and employment. From the construction and operation of biogas plants to the distribution and maintenance of biogas systems, the biogas value chain offers employment opportunities at various professional levels, contributing to poverty reduction and socio-economic development.
