Introduction

The 3-days international conference on “energy production from agriculture biomass and domestic wastes” will provide opportunity for bioenergy experts, industrialists, academic researchers, bioenergy focused organizations and new entrants to come together to explore cutting edge concepts and recent applications in bioenergy sector.

Energy consumption is increasing steadily with the population growth and industrial development. Due to diminishing conventional energy resources it is difficult to cope and balance between the fuel demand and its providence. Therefore, there is great interest in exploring alternative energy sources to maintain the sustainable growth of the society. Most of under developed countries have not yet started the mitigation process for this problem and are facing the liquid fuel deficit. As an immediate way out, they are looking ahead for fuel imports. The major fuel exporting countries are at the nick of peak oil production, the terminal decline. Pakistan has agriculture based economy and is striving to develop industries. Pakistan despite of enormous potential for energy resources, remained energy deficient and has to rely heavily on imports to meet its requirements. The total primary energy consumption in Pakistan is currently estimated at around 64.8 million tons of oil equivalent (MTOE). The government of Pakistan has asserted to exceed local crude oil production to 100,000 barrels per day (BPD) from the current 67,000 BPD and gas production from 4.2 billion cubic feet per day (BCFD) to 5 BCFD till end of year 2013. Pakistan’s primary energy supplies are heavily dependent upon the imported crude oil and petroleum products due to which the country’s oil import bill remained around $16 billion in financial year 2012-13, as against $12.5 billion in the corresponding period of last year, contributing 35% in the total import bill of the country, which is a huge burden on the economy. Consequently, it appears that Pakistan would continue to remain a net importer of oil products unless a major discovery of oil is made. Therefore, increasing demand of energy production in the country is signaling the scientists to focus on some renewable and environmentally friendly energy sources. During last two decades, most of research had been focused on developing an ecological and environmental friendly biofuel production process. Biofuels are alcohols, ethers, esters and other chemicals made from cellulosic biomass such as herbaceous, woody plants, agriculture, forestry residues and a portion of industrial and municipal wastes. The present international conference is designed to provide the theoretical and practical knowledge of current bioethanol, biogas and biodiesel production technologies and their applications.