Karachi to get major biogas plants, SSWMB finalises plan

Bhains Colony has 400,000 animals producing about 6,000 tons of waste daily, association reps told the SSWMB MD.

The Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB) has finalised a strategy for a large-scale biogas project utilising animal waste in Karachi's Bhains Colony, Express News reported.

The plan was discussed during a meeting between SSWMB Managing Director Tariq Ali Nizamani and office-bearers of the Bhains Colony Dairy Association, who assured their full cooperation for the initiative.

Acting on the directives of Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab, the SSWMB has initiated steps to implement this major biogas project. A second meeting with the Bhains Colony Dairy Association's delegation from District Malir was held this week to finalise the strategic framework of the project.

Presiding over the session, MD Nizamani stated that the plan includes setting up two biogas plants on land adjacent to Bhains Colony, owned by the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC). The plants will process both garbage and animal waste in an environmentally safe manner to reduce pollution in the city, waterways, and the sea.

He emphasised that protecting the environment and reducing waste are key priorities, along with providing affordable biogas to the local community. He noted that local residents and the dairy association's cooperation is vital and ultimately in their own interest.

Bhains Colony, located in District Malir, is considered the largest buffalo colony in the world, making it an ideal site for such a project, the MD added.

Association representatives informed the MD that the colony houses approximately 400,000 animals, generating around 6,000 tons of waste daily.

While some biogas is currently being produced on a small scale, the majority of the waste is dumped into the sea due to lack of proper disposal mechanisms. This project is expected to bring significant relief to the colony's administration and residents by offering a sustainable solution.

The association praised SSWMB’s efforts, stating that the project will not only reduce environmental pollution but also provide an affordable energy source to locals by converting waste into biogas. They pledged their full support for the initiative.

It was decided in the meeting that SSWMB’s private partner will conduct a land survey within two weeks and submit a proposal along with a timeline for the project’s completion.