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.
