PM backs project to turn waste into fuel oil

After nearly a decade of research, the KUET team has made significant progress in producing biocrude oil from waste using hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) technology. Laboratory tests have yielded biocrude equivalent to 50–55 per cent of the processed material, according to the researchers, who also reported success in producing diesel-rich biocrude.

As the next step, the team plans to establish a pilot plant capable of processing one to three tonnes of waste a day. The facility would be used to assess the technology's operational performance, production costs and commercial viability.

The proposed pilot project is estimated to require Tk 100 crore to Tk 120 crore.

Researchers said successful commercialisation and large-scale deployment could potentially replace 10--15 per cent of Bangladesh's imported crude oil. This could save the equivalent of Tk 6,500 crore to Tk 13,000 crore in foreign exchange annually, they estimated.

However, they noted that the technology's large-scale performance and economic viability would need to be established before those benefits could be realised.

The researchers believe that, with government support, the technology could contribute to easing the country's fuel supply challenges, reducing dependence on imported energy, cutting environmental pollution and developing a domestic fuel industry. It could also offer a way to turn waste into a valuable energy resource.