ISLAMABAD - World’s leader in ethanol fuel, Brazil has shown interest to
collaborate with Pakistan in the transfer of knowledge and technology
to enhance quality and productivity of ethanol.
A delegation of Brazilian experts on an official visit to Pakistan
expressed their interest to enhance Pakistan’s ethanol productivity,
during a meeting with the officials of the Ministry of Industries here
on Monday.
They said there is a great potential for cooperation between the two
countries in the fields of ethanol production, renewable energy, hybrid
seed production, off-season vegetables production, bio fuel, resource
conservation and pests control technology. Talking with the delegation
Secretary Industries Aziz Ahmad Bilour said the government will
collaborate with Brazil for transfer of knowledge and technology to
enhance quality and productivity of ethanol.
The Brazilian delegation includes Project Analyst Brazilian Cooperation
Agency – ABC Bruno de Amorim Maciel, Expert on Genetic Enhancement
Gabriel Alves Maciel, Expert on Phytopathology Vanildo Alberto Leal
Bezerra Cavalcanti, and Expert on Technical Assistance and Rural
Extension Minucio Monteiro Filho.
He informed that there were 19 ethanol refineries in Pakistan which
produce about half a million tonnes of ethanol, 50 per cent of which is
non-fuel ethanol. He said there is an urgent need to improve the
efficiency of ethanol producing units as the products produced in the
country were not of premium quality. He said the government is
interested in getting technical assistance form Brazilian experts in the
upgradation 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.
He said the government initiated E – 10 scheme in which 10 per cent of
ethanol was to be blended with the traditional fuel for usage in
vehicles but this did not prove successful as ethanol left deposits were
damaging parts of engine and reducing efficiency. He sought short
duration technical training and fellowships in the Brazilian Ethanol
Training Institutes for technicians and scholars of Pakistan’s ethanol
industry.
Bruno said Brazil has an advanced ethanol producing technology and is
using 100 per cent ethanol in vehicles since the 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 assured his
government will look into the proposal for providing scholarships to
Pakistani engineers and technicians in ethanol technology as this will
also help in transfer of technology and knowledge.
Secretary Industries also sought Brazilian cooperation with the local
automotive industry for manufacturing of Flexible Fuel Vehicles (FFV)
using hydrous alcohol. It was also suggested that the Brazilian
companies should look for joint ventures for developing and marketing
ethanol products 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
discussed during the meeting.
News Source: Pakistan Today