Deadline extended for energy standards

Cabinet puts off adoption of standards on request of electric fan manufacturers

ISLAMABAD:

The government has extended the deadline for implementing the minimum energy performance standards for electric fans in an effort to minimise
power outages.

There are no minimum energy performance standards for electric fan manufacturers. Previous government had developed the standards for their application from June 1, 2022 but the electric fan manufacturers have yet to adopt the principles.

They have approached the government, asking it to extend the deadline for adopting the standards to
January 1, 2024.

The government was required to issue a Statutory Regulatory Order (SRO) to implement the standards. Following failure of the fan manufacturers, the government extended the deadline for 45 days.

In a recent meeting of the cabinet, the Science and Technology Division tabled a proposal, seeking extension in the transition period for the minimum energy performance standards for electric fans.

The division briefed the cabinet that the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) was a statutory body working under the administrative control of the Ministry of Science and Technology.

PSQCA, as per law, is the national standards body responsible for monitoring the quality of products falling under the Compulsory Certification Mark Scheme.

In order to promote energy efficiency, the minimum performance standards were developed for electric fans in consultation with the relevant stakeholders.

The Ministry of Science and Technology submitted a summary to the federal cabinet for the inclusion of those standards in the mandatory list of PSQCA.

The standards include comfort fans and regulators for household and similar purposes and methods for measuring the performance. They also include household and similar electrical appliances.

The federal cabinet, in its meeting held on November 9, 2021, granted approval to the SRO for the inclusion of performance standards in the mandatory list
of PSQCA.

However, to enable the local manufacturers adopt those standards, a transition period of more than six months was given and it was clearly mentioned in the SRO that it would come into force with effect from June 1, 2022.

Pakistan Electric Fans Manufacturers Association, after the issuance of the SRO, approached the Ministry of Science and Technology with a request to withdraw the order as the manufacturers were not able to meet the standards due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the lack of understanding of the technicalities of
the standards.

In view of the difficulties faced by the fan manufacturers and to facilitate the small-scale industry, the ministry requested the cabinet to approve the proposal of extending the transition period and allow the implementation of the SRO from January 1, 2024.

During discussion, the cabinet members expressed concern over the extension requests whenever a time limit was prescribed, and underscored the need to adopt and comply especially with the energy-saving standards in the wake of the steps being taken for energy conservation by
the government.

The suggested extension was considered too long, however, there was support for engaging the industry for a better insight into their issues and finding solutions through a consultative and inclusive process.

The cabinet considered a summary titled “Extension in Transition Period of Minimum Energy Performance Standards for Electric Fans”, submitted by the Science and Technology Division, and constituted a committee to look into the issue and recommend a further course of action.

The committee comprised Chaudhry Salik Hussain, Federal Minister for BOI (Convener), Agha Hassan Baloch, Federal Minister for Science and Technology, Syed Aminul Haq, Federal Minister for Information Technology, Syed Murtaza Mehmood, Minister for Industries and Production, Dr Musaddik Masood Malik, Minister of State Petroleum Division and secretary science
and technology.

The committee will present its report to the cabinet within two weeks.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 10^th, 2022.

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