A REVIEW OF ENERGY ANALYSIS OF ETHANOL FUEL IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

Pakistan is the 5th largest producer of sugar cane in the world and ranks 8th in the consumption of sugar. Corn also forms an important cereal crop of the county. Despite of the enormous potential of sugar cane and corn growth, the country suffers from energy and economic crises owing around 25% of its foreign imports to fossil fuels. With the country’s focus shifting towards renewable energy and biofuels, production of ethanol-based fuel from surplus sugar cane is an emerging area of research. Pakistan has around 90 operational sugar mills, but the production of sugarcane has fallen from 7200 tons in 2018 to 5500 tons in 2019 mainly due to farmer’s discontent regarding the pricing and the delayed start of crushing season. This research will review techniques of producing ethanol from corn and sugar cane, its energy analysis and striking a possible balance between the use of sugar cane for servicing the food industry and the energy sector simultaneously. The research will also consider the markets of sugarcane and corn in the country.