Textile sector: Industry looks to solar power

Textile industry thinking of replacing captive power plants (CPPs) with solar energy plants.

KARACHI: The textile industry is seriously considering solar energy as a viable option to keep their businesses running, in the midst of severe power and gas shortages in the country which have affected textile and garment exports. Depleting gas resources combined with high costs of thermal electricity are forcing the textile industry to think of replacing captive power plants (CPPs) with solar energy plants. Although the setting up of solar plants is expensive compared with gas, it is less costly compared to the thermal generation of power. Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association Chief Coordinator Ijaz Khokhar has said: “People in the textile industry are planning to replace existing CPPs with solar energy. However, doing so is not an overnight process. It may take another 1-1.5 years to reach that goal. Moreover, setting up a solar plant is very costly. The government should extend low interest loans to motivate textile unit owners to invest in solar energy.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 9^th, 2012.