Northumbria University to lead Pakistan waste-to-energy project

Academics from Northumbria University are leading the SAFER PLUS project to build Pakistan’s first full-scale plant that converts agricultural waste into clean energy. Supported by approximately £1.25 million in UK government funding, the initiative will transform cotton stalks and sugarcane waste into bio-coal pellets through a heating process called torrefaction.

The project aims to mitigate seasonal smog and air pollution in the Punjab province, where millions of tonnes of crop residue are currently burned in fields. These bio-coal pellets are intended to replace imported coal in textile mill boilers and brick kilns, potentially at a 40-50% lower cost. Three Pakistani textile manufacturers have already signed letters of commitment to trial the fuel.

Additionally, the project seeks to provide economic empowerment for women in rural South Punjab. A women-led biomass co-operative will supply the waste material, providing formal income to over 120 households. To ensure financial independence, at least 60% of training places are reserved for women, with payments made directly into their mobile wallets.