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Using sugarcane bagasse : Govt decides to generate 3,000MW electricity

A.Rafay

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ISLAMABAD: Around 3,000 megawatts (MW) cheaper electricity would be generated through sugarcane bagasse on fast track basis and investors would be facilitated and encouraged.

Minister for Water and Power Ahmed Mukhtar said necessary amendments would also be made in the existing co-generation and Renewable Energy policies to make it simplified and investors friendly.

At a meeting on fast track development of bagasse based power generation projects he said the government was utilising all the resources to end the energy crisis and the power generation from bagasse would be another step to produce electricity from indigenous resources.

He appreciated the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) for taking interest in the bagasse based power projects and assured to provide full cooperation.

Upfront tariff would be given for these projects. It is also the desire of the President Asif Zardari sugarcane bagasse should be utilised for cheaper power generation. Initially 1,500 MW would be completed on fast track basis, he added. The meeting reviewed in detail the existing co-generation and Renewable Energy policies and discussed various proposals to simplify it in order to get benefit at the earliest.

The meeting observed the necessary amendments in the existing policies would help alleviating the power crisis in the country. It was decided Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) would process the bagasse-based projects under Renewable Energy policy.

A committee was also set up to finalise the recommendations within one week in consultation with all the stakeholders so that the approval taken from the competent forum to start the projects.

The meeting was briefed by AEDB and PSMA Pakistan was the 5th largest producer of sugarcane, produces 50 million tonnes of sugarcane annually, yielding over 10 million tonnes of bagasse.

Power generation from bagasse would not only reduce the furnace oil import even save Rs 33 to Rs 49 billion of foreign exchange per annum. The country has 87 sugar mills with a capacity to generate 3,000 MW electricity from bagasse in winter season.

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan
 
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