ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has sought on Monday the Brazilian technology to enhance quality and productivity of ethanol.
In this regard a meeting was held between a Brazilian delegation and Aziz
Ahmad Bilour, Federal Secretary Ministry of Industries (MoI).
The members of Brazilian delegation included Bruno de Amorim Maciel,
project analyst (Brazilian Cooperation Agency-ABC), Gabriel Alves Maciel, (Expert on Genetic Enhancement), Vanildo Alberto Leal Bezerra Cavalcanti, (Expert on Phytopathology) and Minucio Monteiro Filho, (Expert on Technical Assistance and Rural Extension).
Representing the delegation Bruno said that there was a great potential for
cooperation between the two countries in the fields of ethanol
production, renewable energy, hybrid seed production, off-season
vegetable production, bio fuel, resource conservation and pests control
technology.
He said that Brazil had an advanced ethanol producing technology and was using 100 percent ethanol in the vehicles since last 20 years.
“Pakistan can greatly benefit from the Brazilian experience and expertise as it has plenty of raw material required for this purpose”, he added.
Aziz Bilour apprised the experts about the status of ethanol distilleries in Pakistan and said that there was an urgent need to improve the efficiency of ethanol producing units in Pakistan as the products produced were not of premium quality.
He informed the delegation that there were 19 ethanol refineries in Pakistan which produced about half a million ton of ethanol, 50 percent of which is the non-fuel ethanol.
He said that the Government of Pakistan initiated E- 10 Scheme in which 10
percent of ethanol was to be blended with the traditional fuel for usage in vehicles but this did not prove successful as ethanol left deposits damaging parts of engine and reducing efficiency.
He said that
the MoI was interested in getting technical assistance form Brazilian experts in the up gradation of existing distilleries, pre-treatment of sugarcane molasses so that it can be preserved for a longer time and use of ethanol as a fuel in power stations.
Bilour also floated the idea to explore opportunities to offer short duration technical
training and fellowships in the Brazilian Ethanol Training Institutes for our technicians and scholars in the Ethanol industry.
Minucio assured Bilour that his Government would look into the proposal for
providing scholarships to Pakistani engineers and technicians in ethanol technology, as this would prove a swift mode for transfer of technology and knowledge.
The MoI also proposed Brazilian cooperation with the local automotive industry for manufacturing of Flexible Fuel Vehicles (FFV) using hydrous alcohol.
Similarly, it was suggested by the Ministry to have joint ventures with Brazilian
companies for developing and marketing other products of ethanol in Pakistan and in the international market.
Feasibility for diversification of ethanol use in the manufacture of Alco-chemicals and
other sectors aside from transportation was also sought. (APP)