Bio-fuel from human waste

Media reports say that even the oil-rich Middle East is exploring the possibility of bio-fuel from desert plants. Boeing, Etihad Airways and Honeywell UOP, a petroleum refiner company, are jointly conducting research to produce aviation fuel from the plants that emit 50 to 80 per cent less carbon compared to normal fossil-fuel.

Despite the shortage of natural gas, we have taken no national programme for large scale production of Methane gas from available raw materials, including human waste. On the other hand, we have expensive plants and spent money to run waste treatment plants to process this human waste and then release it into the river.

Thailand, with no natural fossil-fuel sources, has been producing Methane gas from human waste for a long time. When will we wake up and use this raw material to produce Methane gas?

Engr SA Mansoor

Gulshan, Dhaka

sam@dhakacom.com