Pakistan Bagasse-Based Cogeneration Development Orientation Visit

Dates: May 9-21, 2010

Locations: Washington, DC; New Orleans, LA; Jennings, LA; West Palm Beach, FL; and Miami, FL

USTDA is sponsoring a 10-day Orientation Visit (OV) for up to 15 Pakistani delegates representing sugar mill executives and energy regulatory bodies. The objective of the visit is to introduce delegates to the latest biomass cogeneration technologies (i.e., high-efficiency boiler systems) and cane industry practices as efficient methods for energy conservation and pollution reduction as well as cost-effective options for placing additional generating capacity on the grid. AEAI will organize the OV, which will take place in May 2010, and entail roundtable discussions, site visits, training and other activities in Washington, D.C., Louisiana, and southern Florida. The itinerary includes visits to major U.S. sugar mill biomass cogeneration facilities as well as meetings with U.S. and state-based policy makers and regulators who represent the biomass cogeneration and renewable energy sectors.

Sugar mills have the potential to supply an estimated 1,200 MW in electricity to the national grid in the coming years. The advantages of sugar industry cogeneration include relatively low capital cost requirements and the utilization of renewable, indigenous waste as a non-polluting fuel. Additional opportunities include utilization of spent molasses (from industrial alcohol production) as an anaerobic digestion feedstock to produce biogas for power generation. In 2006, the Government of Pakistan announced an energy policy that seeks to address the power shortfall in part through development of indigenous renewable resources. While all sugar mills typically generate internal power needs through cogeneration based on bagasse, only a few Pakistani mills are currently operating cogeneration plants with capability to produce an estimated 12 MW of electricity for export. The U.S. Commercial Service in Islamabad has informed USTDA of what it considers a near-term opportunity to add at least a few hundred megawatts of new capacity in the industry. These projects represent significant opportunities for U.S. companies as cogeneration boilers can be sourced wholly or partially from the United States.

A Business Briefing will take place on May 14, 2010 in New Orleans.

For more information contact Suzanne B. Maia, Vice President, Advanced Engineering Associates International, Inc. (AEAI) at smaia@aeai.net or (202) 263-0601.