The University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) Lahore has decided to establish a Biogas Resource Centre on its Ravi Campus, Pattoki, to facilitate and train much needed professionals in the field of renewable energy sources.
The decision was made at a meeting at the UVAS that was co-chaired by vice chancellor Prof Dr Talat Naseer Pasha and Special Assistant to the Chief Minister of Punjab Chaudhry Muhammad Arshad Jatt. The meeting was also attended by representatives of the Livestock and Dairy Development Department Punjab, Punjab Rural Support Programme and Community Development Programme Gujranwala.
The vice chancellor said at the meeting that the UVAS is also constructing a 25 cubic meter biogas digester on the Ravi Campus as one way to use renewable energy sources. A demonstration will be held after the complete installation of the digester, in which a turbine will be run using the biogas from the digester. The meeting also addressed other issues relating to biogas applicability in remote areas to address the energy crisis.
Speaking on the occasion, the vice chancellor said that Pakistan has 57 million large animals (cows and buffalos), and their dung can be used to produce energy at both the community level and on a larger scale. He said that the energy crisis can be reduced greatly if alternative energy sources are used properly and effectively.
Jatt lauded the leading role taken by the UVAS in supporting the government initiatives, and especially its collaboration with the Punjab government in initiating a biogas project for tackling the energy crisis. He said that the government is committed to ending the energy crisis and mitigating the many problems caused by load shedding.
