Sugarcane Biofuels and Bioenergy Production in Pakistan: Current Scenario, Potential, and Future Avenues

Sugarcane is one of the major agricultural commodities of Pakistan. The crop is grown on an area of 1.22 million hectares, with a total production of 73.40 million tons. Sugarcane’s role has been limited to sugar production in the past; however, it can play significant role toward energy matrix of the country. Being a developing nation of 197 million people, energy demands of the country are sky-high, whereas indigenous energy resources are meager. Pakistan meets its petroleum demands majorly through imports, while the country is also facing power shortage for more than a decade. Hence, sugarcane, as an energy crop, can play significant role in providing bioenergy in the form of ethanol-blended fuels as well as cogenerated electricity. Pakistan State Oil evaluated E10 blend on limited outlets in 2006 followed by its marketing in 2010. Indigenous ethanol production has increased over time because of new taxes on export of molasses. Fuel grade ethanol is also already being produced by some distilleries; nevertheless, these initiatives have not contributed much toward country’s energy matrix because of absence of policies requiring ethanol blends at national level till date. Sugarcane sector can also serve for bioelectricity production in Pakistan. The country has potential to engender approximately 3000 MW of electricity from sugarcane. Various economic incentives have been offered to power producing sugar mills; nevertheless, there is need to increase the support, especially regarding financing for upgrading current low-pressure technology of the mills. Since there is scarcity of hydropower in sugarcane crushing season, cane industry can play important role in tackling the energy shortfall of the country in such months. This chapter analyzes the current status and future perspectives of cane-derived fuels and energy production in Pakistan.