Alternative Fiber Resources for Pulp and Paper Industry of Bangladesh: Why and What?

Abstract

This study has evaluated the factors affecting the utilization of alternative fiber resources and efforts have also been made to outline the possible alternative fiber resources available in the country. Since 1989, paper consumption has exceeded production. Imports of industrial paper have increased and the future of newsprint export is dark. The government sector pulp and paper mills are highly dependent on forest based fiber resources and private sector paper and board mills depend on imported pulps. Uneven distribution of fiber resources has limited the raw material availability of the pulp and paper mills. Shortage of raw materials, irregular procurements, and low installed capacity are the main reasons for low paper production. On the other hand, paper demand will increase tremendously in the near future. But the present raw material availability is not sufficient to cope with the future demand for attaining self sufficiency in paper production. Therefore, immediate action is necessary for utilizing alternative fiber resources. Rangpur region has abundant lower grade jute. Jute cutting is available in Narayangonj area. Available bagasse supply is expected in the northwest regions after the end of this century. These resources are more than enough for supplementing the shortage of present raw materials during the 1997–2006 period.