6.2.1. R&D work on renewable energy recourses in Pakistan
Research and development work has been started to explore
renewable energy products in Pakistan, but there is still a need
for more serious and extensive research to promote the renewable
energy technologies. Table 11 lists the government and private
organizations involved in R&D on renewable energy recourses.
These organizations have developed and promoted renewable
energy products but most of them remained at modest level and
were unable to go in large-scale production. Realizing the importance
of biodiesel, AEDB outlined National Biodiesel Programme
and decided to assist and facilitate the stakeholders involved for
this purpose. AEDB formulated Policy Recommendations for use
of Biodiesel as an Alternative Fuel which are primarily aimed at
reducing the country’s fuel import bill. The Economic Coordination
Committee (ECC) of the Federal Cabinet has approved the Policy
Recommendations for use of Biodiesel as an Alternative Fuel. In
collaboration with AEDB, Pakistan State Oil Ltd. (PSO) has established
a Jatropha Nursery and a Jatropha Model Farm at 22 acres
land available at Pipri Marshalling Yard (PMY), Karachi. AEDB also
provided a Biodiesel production plant to PSO for the optimization of
biodiesel processing techniques. PSO has processed and tested different
biodiesel blends on its fleet vehicles and generators. With the
help of AEDB, Pakistan’s first ever commercial biodiesel production
facility has been setup in Karachi by M/s Eco-Friendly Fuels Private
Ltd. This Biodiesel refinery has a capacity of producing 18,000 tons
of biodiesel per annum [57].
[55]. Transformation of low efficiency fuels to high efficiency
convenient fuels involves substantial investments, and often the
transformation process involves loss of energy.