Alternative energy: ‘1,300 MW can be made from crop waste’
The government is working on a 50-year policy to resolve the energy crisis, says minister.
The government is working on a 50-year policy to resolve the energy crisis, says minister. PHOTO: FILE
MULTAN:
The government has signed a memorandum of understanding with an Indian company for generating electricity from crop waste in Lahore, Provincial Minister for Agriculture Dr Farrukh Javed told The Express Tribune on Sunday.
“As much as 1,300 megawatts of electricity can be produced in the first phase of the project,” he said.
Javed said 11 million tonnes of crop residue would be used as biomass fuel for the project.
He said an Indian company, Universal Bio Mass Energy, had offered the best price for the project.
“The government is working on a 50-year policy to resolve the energy crisis in five years,” he said.
“Each bio mass energy generating unit will be completed in two years. It will then be handed over to the government… it can be eventually added to the national grid.”
Universal Bio Mass Energy Director Pon Pareet Singh Badal signed the agreement on December 26. From the government’s side, Agriculture Secretary Dr Ijaz Munir and Energy Department Chief Engineer Iftikhar Ahmed Randhawa signed the agreement.
In the first phase, the government plans to start 62 megawatts projects in the province – a 20 megawatt electricity project in Multan, a 20 megawatts one in Kala Shah Kaku, a 10 megawatts project in Faisalabad, a 10 megawatts one in Rahim Yar Khan and a two megawatts electricity project in Daska.
The waste would be collected from wheat, cotton, maize and rice crops.
Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has also invited alternative energy experts from India to share their expertise and ideas.
Balour Singh, the Indian Punjab Energy Development Agency’s director, is expected to head a visit to Pakistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 30th, 2013.
The government has signed a memorandum of understanding with an Indian company for generating electricity from crop waste in Lahore, Provincial Minister for Agriculture Dr Farrukh Javed told The Express Tribune on Sunday.
“As much as 1,300 megawatts of electricity can be produced in the first phase of the project,” he said.
Javed said 11 million tonnes of crop residue would be used as biomass fuel for the project.
He said an Indian company, Universal Bio Mass Energy, had offered the best price for the project.
“The government is working on a 50-year policy to resolve the energy crisis in five years,” he said.
“Each bio mass energy generating unit will be completed in two years. It will then be handed over to the government… it can be eventually added to the national grid.”
Universal Bio Mass Energy Director Pon Pareet Singh Badal signed the agreement on December 26. From the government’s side, Agriculture Secretary Dr Ijaz Munir and Energy Department Chief Engineer Iftikhar Ahmed Randhawa signed the agreement.
In the first phase, the government plans to start 62 megawatts projects in the province – a 20 megawatt electricity project in Multan, a 20 megawatts one in Kala Shah Kaku, a 10 megawatts project in Faisalabad, a 10 megawatts one in Rahim Yar Khan and a two megawatts electricity project in Daska.
The waste would be collected from wheat, cotton, maize and rice crops.
Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has also invited alternative energy experts from India to share their expertise and ideas.
Balour Singh, the Indian Punjab Energy Development Agency’s director, is expected to head a visit to Pakistan.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 30th, 2013.