Energy & Resource | August 2026 | 4 min read
⚡ Quick Takeaways
- Northumbria University academics secured nearly £1.25 million in UK government funding for the SAFER PLUS project.
- The plant will convert cotton stalks and sugarcane waste into bio-coal pellets through torrefaction.
- The project aims to reduce farm-waste burning that contributes to Punjab’s seasonal smog.
- A women-led biomass cooperative will collect waste and receive mobile-wallet payments.
- Bio-coal pellets could replace imported coal in brick kilns and textile boilers at 40% to 50% lower cost.
Pakistan is set to get its first full-scale crop-waste-to-fuel plant, turning material often burned in fields into cleaner industrial energy.
| £1.25m | 5,000 tons | 40-50% |
| UK funding secured | Waste processing target per year | Lower fuel cost potential |
Crop Waste Project Moves to Full-Scale Plant
Academics at Northumbria University have secured nearly £1.25 million in UK government funding to build Pakistan’s first full-scale demonstration plant that converts agricultural waste into clean energy. The university’s School of Engineering, Physics and Mathematics is leading the SAFER PLUS project, which will convert cotton stalks and sugarcane waste into bio-coal pellets.
The process uses torrefaction, a controlled heating method that upgrades biomass into a denser, cleaner solid fuel. Bioenergy News reported that the demonstration hub will be built at the University of Kamalia in South Punjab and is expected to process 5,000 tonnes of agricultural waste per year, producing up to 4,000 tonnes of bio-coal.
| Verified Context: Northumbria University confirms the funding, SAFER PLUS project, crop-waste feedstock and rural-women income model. |
Punjab Smog and Coal Imports Drive Urgency
Farmers across Punjab burn millions of tonnes of cotton stalks and sugarcane waste every year because they often have no better disposal route. Northumbria says the practice contributes to air pollution and seasonal smog, with pollution levels in winter reaching several times above World Health Organisation limits.
The fuel problem is just as serious. Pakistan imports large volumes of coal for industrial use, with project lead Dr Jibran Khaliq citing annual coal import spending of more than $2.5 billion. If bio-coal pellets can replace part of that demand in brick kilns and textile mill boilers, the project could reduce fuel costs while using waste that is currently treated as a burden.
| Project feature | Reported detail | Why it matters | Expected impact |
| Feedstock | Cotton stalks and sugarcane waste | Uses farm residue that is often burned | Less field burning |
| Technology | Torrefaction into bio-coal pellets | Turns loose biomass into industrial fuel | Cleaner fuel option |
| Buyers | Brick kilns and textile boilers | Targets high coal-use sectors | Lower import pressure |
| Social model | Women-led biomass cooperative | Pays rural households for waste collection | New income stream |
Women-Led Cooperative Adds Rural Income
A women-led biomass cooperative will collect and supply the agricultural waste. More than 120 households near the plant are expected to receive formal payments for material that farmers currently pay to dispose of. The project will reserve at least 60 percent of its training places for women and send payments directly to their mobile wallets.
This design gives the project a social-development role as well as an energy role. Rural women often participate in agricultural work without formal pay or recognition. Direct payments and training can help turn waste collection into a documented income opportunity, especially if the model is replicated in other crop-producing districts.
| Community Note: The strongest local benefit will come if payments remain transparent, timely and directly linked to verified waste collection. |
Textile Mills Could Test Commercial Demand
Three Pakistani textile manufacturers have already signed letters of commitment to test the bio-coal as boiler fuel. That matters because the project is not only a lab idea; it is trying to turn six years of research into a commercial facility that industry can test, buy from and replicate.
If the pellets perform reliably, Pakistan could gain a cleaner local fuel for sectors that still depend on coal. The project may also create extra value through surplus heat for dyeing workshops, electricity for off-grid households and wood vinegar for farmers. The real test will be whether the plant can run consistently, meet buyer quality requirements and prove that crop waste can become a bankable energy supply chain.
| Disclaimer: Commercial results will depend on plant performance, pellet quality, buyer trials, logistics and final fuel pricing. |
Disclaimer: This article is based on Northumbria University’s public release and related energy-sector reporting available at the time of writing. Project output, buyer uptake and commercial timelines may change as the demonstration plant is built and tested.
