energy options employing biogas plants. The situation is more promising since
Pakistan has all the necessary raw materials for energy production through waste
decomposition.
Traditional ways of burning dung cakes, firewood, straw, and agriculture residue
with inadequate ventilation systems produce toxic particles and affect human health
severely. Indoor air pollution from biomass burning and poor ventilation in homes
had increased risk of respiratory infections among children, chronic pulmonary
diseases in adults, and other diseases including less birth weight, tuberculosis, ear
infection, and cataracts (Bajgain and Shakya 2005). More specifically, 1–2 million
deaths were caused because of the burning of solid fuels in Sub-Saharan Africa and
have contributed 3–4% of global mortality in 2000 (REN 21 2005).
Developing countries, including Pakistan, are suffering from an energy crisis and
ever-increasing gap between energy demand and supply. In order to meet the energy
deficit, Pakistan spends around US$7 billion annually on fossil fuels import
amounting to 40% of total imports (Heedge and Pandey 2008). The imported fossil
fuel is then burnt in various thermal power plants to produce energy. Predictions
have shown that energy demands will rise three-folds in 2050; however, the energy
supplies do not seem to be increasing proportionately (Asif 2009).
Hence, to meet the ever-growing energy demands and alleviation of the economic
situation of Pakistan, and most of the developing countries, the diversified energy
mix having alternative energy resources is imperative. In 2010–2011, an economic
survey was conducted in Pakistan, and it revealed that biomass is the most readily
available and cheapest renewable resource. There is plenty of agri-waste in all rural
areas of Pakistan. 652 million kg of animal manure is produced daily by cattle and
buffaloes with the potential to generate around 16.3 million m
3 of biogas daily and
21 million tons of bio-fertilizer per year. These biogas energy generation plants can
contribute significantly to overcome the energy needs of Pakistan and other developing countries since they require low initial capital cost and can be started with a
Fig. 2.1 Sector-wise projection of GHG emissions in Pakistan, Mt CO 2 -equivalent (source:
MPDR-Ministry of Planning Development and Reform 2010)
2 Microbial and Biotechnological Advancement in Biogas Production
33
Pakistan has all the necessary raw materials for energy production through waste
decomposition.
Traditional ways of burning dung cakes, firewood, straw, and agriculture residue
with inadequate ventilation systems produce toxic particles and affect human health
severely. Indoor air pollution from biomass burning and poor ventilation in homes
had increased risk of respiratory infections among children, chronic pulmonary
diseases in adults, and other diseases including less birth weight, tuberculosis, ear
infection, and cataracts (Bajgain and Shakya 2005). More specifically, 1–2 million
deaths were caused because of the burning of solid fuels in Sub-Saharan Africa and
have contributed 3–4% of global mortality in 2000 (REN 21 2005).
Developing countries, including Pakistan, are suffering from an energy crisis and
ever-increasing gap between energy demand and supply. In order to meet the energy
deficit, Pakistan spends around US$7 billion annually on fossil fuels import
amounting to 40% of total imports (Heedge and Pandey 2008). The imported fossil
fuel is then burnt in various thermal power plants to produce energy. Predictions
have shown that energy demands will rise three-folds in 2050; however, the energy
supplies do not seem to be increasing proportionately (Asif 2009).
Hence, to meet the ever-growing energy demands and alleviation of the economic
situation of Pakistan, and most of the developing countries, the diversified energy
mix having alternative energy resources is imperative. In 2010–2011, an economic
survey was conducted in Pakistan, and it revealed that biomass is the most readily
available and cheapest renewable resource. There is plenty of agri-waste in all rural
areas of Pakistan. 652 million kg of animal manure is produced daily by cattle and
buffaloes with the potential to generate around 16.3 million m
3 of biogas daily and
21 million tons of bio-fertilizer per year. These biogas energy generation plants can
contribute significantly to overcome the energy needs of Pakistan and other developing countries since they require low initial capital cost and can be started with a
Fig. 2.1 Sector-wise projection of GHG emissions in Pakistan, Mt CO 2 -equivalent (source:
MPDR-Ministry of Planning Development and Reform 2010)
2 Microbial and Biotechnological Advancement in Biogas Production
33