By Aziz Khatri
KARACHI: Karachi’s mayor, Barrister Murtaza Wahab, has said that a clean, green and energy-self-reliant Karachi is his goal, as he visited a newly completed biogas plant at Bagh Ibn-e-Qasim in Clifton.
The 150-cubic-metre biogas plant has been completed by the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB), District South. Relevant officials were present during the visit. Wahab praised the collective efforts and performance of the District South team for completing the project within the stipulated time, describing it as an important step towards sustainable waste management and clean energy.
The mayor said the biogas plant was processing around 1.5 to 2 tons of organic waste daily, producing between 120 and 150 cubic meters of biogas. He said the gas contained 55 to 65% methane, generating energy equivalent to around 45 to 55 LPG cylinders per month. He added that such projects not only provide an alternative source of energy but also play a significant role in environmental protection.
Wahab said the biogas initiative was reducing the cost of waste transportation and reliance on landfill sites, while making it possible to cut annual carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 250 to 300 tons. He said the project would also ensure the supply of organic fertilizer, or bioslurry, for parks and green belts, helping to make the city greener.
During the visit, the mayor directed that feasibility studies for larger biogas projects be initiated immediately in areas such as Cattle Colony and Malir, which generate large quantities of organic and livestock waste. He said waste-to-energy projects were essential for Karachi and that the promotion of renewable energy at the municipal level would be further expanded.
