Latest news with #AdeelGhayur
Express Tribune
02-04-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
'Turn crop waste into SAF'
Crop residues burned during both winter and summer in Pakistan represent an underutilised resource with immense potential for SAF production. photo: REUTERS Listen to article Promoting sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production can help Pakistan boost national energy security, large-scale economic activity, and foreign direct investment while reducing crop waste and air pollution, economic and energy experts and environmental activists said. They said that Pakistan is uniquely positioned to harness its abundant agricultural resources and establish itself as a key player in SAF production. By leveraging its vast agricultural base, the country can simultaneously address four critical challenges: enhancing national energy security, stimulating large-scale economic activity, attracting foreign direct investment, and mitigating crop waste and the air pollution caused by its burning. Speaking with The Express Tribune, they said that globally, nations across various industrial sectors are striving to reduce emissions, and the aviation industry is no exception. As efforts to mitigate the environmental impact of air travel gain momentum, sustainable aviation fuel is emerging as a transformative solution. They noted that with mandates in the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK), along with the United States' strategic initiatives driving SAF adoption, Pakistan can capitalise on SAF production while repurposing its crop residues. With global aviation fuel demand exceeding 250 million metric tonnes annually, the shift to SAF presents both a monumental challenge and a transformative opportunity. SAF is a renewable, low-carbon alternative to conventional jet fuel, produced from sustainable feedstocks such as waste oils, agricultural residues, and non-food biomass. Commercially, two key technologies dominate SAF production: Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA) and Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ). The selection of technology depends on the type of biomass available for SAF production. HEFA technology is utilised for lipid-based feedstocks, such as used cooking oil, animal fats, and non-edible vegetable oils, while ATJ technology is best suited for sugar-based feedstocks, such as wheat straw, rice husks, and bagasse waste. SAF produced through these two technologies provides a "drop-in" fuel that is fully compatible with existing jet engines and infrastructure. An emerging and highly promising third technology involves utilising carbon dioxide as a feedstock, though it is not yet commercially available. Eminent energy scientist and expert in a circular economy Dr Adeel Ghayur said that commercial SAF technologies offer production capacities ranging from 100,000 tonnes to as much as one million tonnes annually. He explained that refineries on the higher end of this spectrum require multibillion-dollar investments but have the potential to generate thousands of direct and indirect jobs, boosting economic activity in their regions. He noted that currently, SAF is priced at approximately $2,500 per metric tonne, significantly higher than conventional aviation fuel, which costs around $700 per metric tonne. As the international community tightens its regulatory frameworks for sustainable aviation, Pakistan is presented with a unique window of opportunity that represents both an environmental imperative and a tremendous economic prospect. Crop residues burned during both winter and summer in Pakistan represent an underutilised resource with immense potential for SAF production. In Punjab alone, it is estimated that millions of tonnes of rice residue are burned each winter to prepare fields for the next planting season. Furthermore, additional crop residues become available during the wheat harvest. Together, these biomass resources hold the capacity to support the establishment of multiple SAF refineries, transforming a major environmental challenge into an economic and ecological opportunity. He said, "The starting point for Pakistan's SAF transformation lies in developing a well-rounded, multipronged strategy focused on attracting foreign investment, equipping local industries with the necessary knowledge, infrastructure, and skills, and fostering the development of robust indigenous research and development (R&D) capabilities. Strengthening R&D is essential for Pakistan to remain competitive in the global SAF market, secure its position as a hub for innovation, and maintain leadership as SAF adoption rises across Asia. This comprehensive policy roadmap will serve as both a blueprint and a catalyst to propel Pakistan to the forefront of the global SAF revolution."
Express Tribune
29-03-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Lignik: a solution to housing issue
With housing being the primary focus, Lignik offers a sustainable alternative, effectively replacing traditional construction materials such as wood, bricks, cement and steel. PHOTO: FILE Listen to article A game-changing biosynthetic technology, called Lignik and invented by Pakistani energy scientist Dr Adeel Ghayur in Australia, is poised to revolutionise the construction industry as this presents a crucial opportunity for Pakistan to take a bold step towards offering environment-friendly and cost-effective housing facilities to the masses that are facing an acute shortage of around 15 million houses. The first step will involve conducting simulation cost analyses, similar to the approach undertaken in Australia. Pakistan has a shortfall of nearly 15 million houses and the construction of these homes using Lignik and similar materials would not only make the housing market green and sustainable, but it would also contribute to the removal of 150 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from the air. Additionally, construction at this scale would offset 600 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions that would otherwise be associated with the production of bricks, cement and steel for building these houses. These could be used for carbon credits, thereby further improving the economics and lowering costs. Currently, all cost estimates are based on Australian data. In Australia, the costs are less than half, suggesting that comparable or even more favourable costs could be expected in Pakistan. "The vision behind Lignik's invention imagines a future where houses are constructed from materials that actively mitigate waste and emissions. With Lignik, the blueprint of tomorrow is not only sustainable and innovative but also economically viable," eminent energy scientist and Chief Technology Officer at Allied Biorefinery in Australia Dr Adeel Ghayur said while talking to The Express Tribune on a WhatsApp call. "Lignik is fully recyclable; it is well-suited for reuse in practical, real-world applications. This groundbreaking material is both renewable and recyclable, designed to transform the way we build while prioritising sustainability." He said additionally, the Lignik process enables 100% recycling of its own products, fostering a circular economy with zero waste. Lignik is the world's first biosynthetic wood, microbially produced from carbon dioxide and biowaste, and designed for 3D printing for a wide range of applications. With housing being the primary focus, Lignik offers a sustainable alternative, effectively replacing traditional construction materials such as wood, bricks, cement and steel. The 3D printing of a 100-square-metre (25 feet x 43 feet) house is potentially possible within a single day using Lignik. He said Lignik material is strong, durable and resistant to environmental factors. "Accelerated aging and weathering tests conducted in Australia have demonstrated the material's resilience to the country's harsh environmental conditions. This robustness makes it well-suited for use in Pakistan's climate. Houses constructed with Lignik material can be designed to provide enhanced disaster resistance, particularly against earthquakes and water damage." Achieving this would necessitate the integration of structural engineering requirements tailored to disaster-prone regions into the building design. Beyond its exceptional physical properties, it stands out as a unique material that actively removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during production, effectively contributing to reversing climate change. The construction of a single 100-square-metre house using Lignik can remove 10 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide from the air. He said, "Techno-economic simulations estimate that the upfront capital cost for a commercial-scale facility in Australia is Australian dollar (AUD) 200 million. This facility will have the capacity to produce sufficient Lignik to support the construction of 10,000 houses annually, equating to the removal of 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. Notably, this capital cost is solely associated with the production of intermediary chemicals and does not encompass expenses related to house construction. The annual operating costs for the facility are estimated at AUD 42 million. "In Pakistan, both the operational and capital costs would be significantly lower, primarily due to reduced labour costs." Ghayur said moreover the adoption of 3D-printing technology could lead to a further significant reduction in labour costs for constructing individual houses. Asian countries are urbanising at an unprecedented pace, with the availability of affordable housing failing to keep pace with current and projected demands. According to the International Energy Agency, by 2050, construction equivalent to 70 billion square metre of floor area is expected in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), China and India alone. This scale of construction would necessitate more than 160 billion tonnes of materials, resulting in an estimated 28 billion tonnes of associated carbon dioxide emissions. Such extensive construction activities are in stark contrast to the developmental goals of many Asian countries, which emphasise economic growth, job creation, sustainable poverty alleviation, transition to green and resilient infrastructure and achieving 2050 emissions reduction targets. In addition to significant greenhouse gas emissions, the unsustainable extraction of construction materials is causing severe social and environmental challenges. These include the degradation of fertile topsoil due to clay mining, leading to food insecurity, as well as ecosystem destruction caused by sand mining. Social issues, such as criminalisation of the construction materials industry, bonded labour and escalating costs, are becoming increasingly prevalent. This situation is not confined to Pakistan but also extends to many other Asian countries. Furthermore, Pakistan is rapidly depleting its sustainable sources of construction materials, such as sand for concrete and topsoil for bricks, which is exacerbating environmental and social challenges.
