Prudent use of available energy is imperative to drive a marked reduction in the cost of doing business, said Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) President Atif Munir Sheikh.
He was of the view that the government should devise and implement policies that focused on the industrial sector of the country.
Addressing the ‘National Stakeholder Consultation (Punjab) on draft of the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation (NEEC) Policy-2022’, he said that Faisalabad was one of the major energy load centers of the country.
Two mega industrial estates are in the process of colonisation and foreign as well as local investors were aiming to set up their hi-tech industrial units in the city which would further enhance the energy demand, he underlined.
In the past, Pakistan used to have cheap hydel electricity in abundance, he said adding that “we used this fuel relentlessly”.
“Now we are forced on using electricity generated from costly hydrocarbons, which is also fomenting environmental pollution,” he lamented.
Sheikh held the view that the industrial sector was among the worst affected segments from hike in energy costs. “It has enhanced the cost of production and exporters are facing daunting challenges in the international market because of it,” he said.
Pakistan could save at least 17% of electricity by plugging in the leakage and wastage, he added. Emphasising upon the importance of certified energy auditors and management professionals, he said that their services should be utilised to minimise the wastage of electricity by conducting audits on industrial units on a voluntary basis.
Appreciating the introduction of energy-efficient appliances, he voiced hope that the country will promote such equipment to save costly energy and reduce the country’s dependence on imported fuel.
Regarding construction of new dams, he said “we can generate 240 megawatts of electricity from the proposed Chiniot Dam, which is in the close vicinity of Faisalabad.”
“We must also switch over to solar energy,” he emphasised, adding that Pakistan should capitalise on the plains of Punjab and Sindh in this regard, where “sunlight remains available for 17 hours”.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 20th, 2022.
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