The study intends to support Pakistan’s transition towards a low-carbon economy by developing biomethane production from urban waste streams as well as other biomass sources, by simultaneously solving issues associated with the treatment of biodegradable waste streams, while developing local production of non-fossil fuel alternatives. 

The scope of work includes the following activities:

a) Raise awareness on biogas production among local stakeholders, including the private sector, in Sindh Province.

b) Evaluate feedstock availability, at city level, across the various sources within Sindh Province (urban, agricultural, and industrial), including biogas potential and mobilization strategy, with a specific focus on municipal waste streams.

c) Determine market for large-scale biogas across the main end-use sectors including transport, heating and cooking, specifically identifying drivers and roadblocks along the value chain.

d) Prepare Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) plan, evaluate climate co-benefits depending on end-use scenarios and potential for carbon finance.

Pakistan is the 8th largest methane emitter globally, with a steady increase of nearly 3 percent per year over the past two decades. Pakistan joined the Global Methane Pledge in 2021 committing to the collective goal of reducing global methane emissions by at least 30 percent from 2020 levels by 2030. In terms of NDCs, Pakistan intends to reduce its GHG emissions by 50 percent by 2030 from the projected emissions, through a massive shift from 6 percent in 2020 to 60 percent renewable energy in 2030, implying that domestically available renewable energy alternatives are optimally utilized, including biogas.  The 2021 updated NDCs, also included specific provisions for reducing methane emissions from waste.

In this context, the World Bank Group has committed  to support methane emissions reductions from the waste sector through several operations, including the Solid Waste Emergency and Efficiency Project (SWEEP),  and is inviting specialized firms for the assessment of biomethane potential in Sindh Province.