Bio Gold (BG) is a recently established business with the objective of commercializing bio-briquette

production. Mudassir ul Malik, the owner of the organization, is an experienced energy and water
consultant who has worked on several impact and feasibility studies for engineering projects focused on
water and energy for government and non-government organizations.

Areas such as Chitral have high dependence on fuelwood for cooking and heating purposes. The
dependence on fuelwood has remained high even after regulations on deforestation have become
stringent. Alternative means to heating such as LPG and coal have limited supply and high prices. These
resources are neither sustainable nor easily accessible. Thus there remains a need for a sustainable and
cleaner energy sources for heating and cooking purposes. Bio Gold will thus provide households with a
low cost, efficient and cleaner cooking and heating fuel by introducing bio-briquettes made with biomass
waste. We anticipate cost savings on fuel for domestic use and increased time (less time spent on
collecting and preparing fuel wood) for other economic activities. It will also have positive environmental
and health impacts (especially on women health) as it is a cleaner alternative to fuel wood.

Key activities for which MDF will support Bio Gold include the following:
- Support Bio Gold in establishing a bio-briquette production and warehousing facility
- Support Bio Gold in creating awareness through marketing and distribution of bio-briquettes
with Agha Khan Rural Support Program.

The budget for these activities and sub-activities following these activities is as follows:

MDF Contribution Partner Contribution

Total PKR (±)
(Upto PKR) (± PKR)
TOTAL CONTRIBUTION
PKR 4,774,600 PKR 6,598,000 PKR 11,372,600
(42%) (58%)

Bio Gold will target 1000 households in Chitral during the first year and potentially 2800-3000
households will be able to benefit from this alternative cooking and heating fuel within the first 3 years.
7 new FTEs will be created at the facility, including a marketing officer that will help create awareness
about briquettes throughout Chitral. MDF will also engage AKRSP’s support to implement and create
awareness on introduction of a new product. Households will be able to save upto Rs. 50,000 each year
by reducing their dependence on other fuel. Additionally, they will also save time spent on collection and
preparation of fuelwood.