Government should introduce low-carbon fuels

The Pakistan government should take up the task of introducing low-carbon fuels like biodiesel and ethanol in vehicles as it will reduce emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) up to 10% and bring home US$160 million through exporting ethyl alcohol. This is what Asif Masood, manager of Technical Energy Conservation Fund (Enercon), said in his paper titled “Low Carbon Economy” presented in a session held to mark the World Environment Day. The money can be achieved by processing two million tons of molasses that can produce 500 million liters of ethyl alcohol. It can also produce an additional 160,000 tons of fuel by mixing 10% ethanol, a by-product. Pakistan, potentially rich with molasses resources can produce sufficient ethanol to satisfy its energy needs, if it can counter its heavily regulated sugar market and forecast prices of ethanol derived from local sugarcane. (June 14, 2008)