LAHORE: A private company has introduced its Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) based gasification plant in the Pakistan market to combat the current energy crisis faced by the industry.

Five models of different capacities have so far been built by the Waste Busters in collaboration with Alternate Energy Services Providers (AESP), company chief executive Asif Farooki told newsmen on Tuesday.

The Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) is the main fuel, being used to run gasification units to produce thermal energy at very high temperatures which can then be used to operate gas generators to produce electricity.

'These gasification units cannot cater for the entire shortage of the current gas requirement in the country but it's a positive step in the right direction. The best part is that the entire unit is made 100 per cent in Pakistan with local fabrication.

Not only does this technology provide a solution to the energy crisis but would also help provide another scientific means of waste disposal.

'The gasification units are capable of producing gas starting from 2,000 cubic feet per hour to 26,000 eft/hr using different types of waste materials such as plastic bags, wrappers and other high calorific materials,' he said.

The units have also been capable of running on all types of biomass, including coal, rice husk, sugar cane bagasse and industrial waste materials, said Mr Farooki and added that the attempt was aimed at catering to the demand of the small industrial units which have to operate their dryers, furnaces, kilns, ovens, heat exchangers and steam irons.

'This is the segment which is suffering the most as they have to operate daily to earn their livelihood and they are unable to meet their daily expenses because of the non-availability of gas,' said Farooki.

AWARENESS DRIVE: The Lahore Waste Management Company on Tuesday conducted another school awareness activity at the Government Model High School, Rang Mahal (UC28), Lohari Gate, drawing attention of school children towards the importance of cleanliness.

The highlight of the awareness activity was a painting competition, prize distribution ceremony and waste picking by school children.

The LWMC staff actively participated in the waste-picking activity to encourage students to join hands and clean their dear city Lahore together. The activity was a symbol of LWMC's effort to make children learn how to keep their surroundings clean by taking an initiative themselves rather than looking out for labourers to perform cleaning activities for them.

The activity was part of the ongoing 'School Awareness Programme' launched by LWMC to create awareness among students of government institutions about benefits of keeping their surroundings clean and free of waste. After this activity, the number of students involved in 'School Safai Gang' has exceeded 225 and LWMC targets to involve many more students in future.

Earlier, LWMC Communication Assistant Manager Christina Patras briefed the students about cleanliness campaign and company's motto through a presentation followed by Operations Assistant Manager Fariha Shad who taught students about how to 'keep our environment healthy and clean through our own efforts in daily routine.

School Principal Chaudhry Mohammad Abbas thanked the LWMC for arranging the activity in his institution and mobilising the students on such a sensitive issue.