The University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) would try to set up biogas plants to provide power to run 12 million tube wells in the country.
This would save up to Rs400 billion each year and save as much electricity as Mangla Dam can generate, UAF Vice Chancellor Iqrar Ahmad Khan said in a meeting with a three-member delegation of the Pakistan Engineering Council headed by Additional Accreditation Registrar Engineer Nasir Mehmood Khan at New Syndicate Hall here on Friday.
Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Nadeemul Haq had urged the university to submit a plan of action in this regard when he visited Faisalabad last week.
Dr Khan asked the Agricultural Engineering Dean Dr Iqbal to nominate a focal person to oversee the project and coordinate with the Pakistan Engineering Council.
The UAF, in collaboration with a German firm, will also set up a 3.2MW solar power plant to provide electricity to the campus. The university would be able to sell excess electricity to neighbouring offices, Dr Khan said.
The UAF would offer an energy environment degree programme from the next academic session, he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 27th, 2013.