Energy-starved textile millers are busy in energy audit of their mills in order to make maximum utilisation of electricity. The prime objective of energy audit is to ensure efficient utilisation of available energy and improve competitiveness of the textile sector on sustainable basis. So far, 19 mills have achieved nearly 64,414MWh/yr of energy savings equivalent to 293 Million PKR/yr with no or low investment.
Pakistan is passing through a severe energy crisis since November 2007. There is an approximate gap of about 5,000MW between demand and supply. The shortage is being shifted to the industry at large. The textile industry had opted for power generation through Sui gas as cheap fuel against furnace oil but all in vain due to persistent gas shortages in the country.
Resultantly, the industry is left with no option but to bear with the situation, losing exports worth over $1 billion during first six months of the current fiscal due to idle capacity. Massive unemployment is another severe outcome of the situation at hand. APTMA sources have told Business Recorder that a large number of textile mills have registered their interest for implementation of the energy audit in their respective mills.
APTMA, along with partner organisations SMEDA and GIZ, has initiated Energy Manager Training Programme, as integral part of EnMS, with the aim to train energy managers for conservation and efficiency improvement measures. Energy Manager Training Programme has been successfully conducted in two series of sessions. Approximately 45 energy managers of APTMA members have been trained so far under EMT Programme of SMEDA.
There exists estimated potential of energy conservation by APTMA member mills to the tune of 150 MW. APTMA is working to broad base the energy efficiency measures in its 396 mills. APTMA has also established an Energy Management Cell with the vision to develop in-house capacity building on energy efficiency and promoting systematic approach for implementing efficiency initiatives.
The cell acts as an information centre, providing comprehensive consultancy services and technical guidance to member mills on energy efficiency, and renewable energy and Process Technologies. It also promotes energy efficiency culture in the textile sector by identifying opportunities and demonstrating energy conservation techniques/technologies.
Currently, APTMA is looking after two energy conservation projects, including Energy Audits with National Productivity Organisation (NPO) and Energy Management Systems with German Technical Co-operation (GIZ), a German consultancy firm. The NPO has engaged three teams of energy auditors for this exercise. In the first phase, 20 member mills of APTMA benefited from the programme. Results compiled after the successful completion of these audits, show encouraging results.
A potential of 10-15 percent of energy saving was identified that can be achieved by proper housekeeping and maintenance. However, saving margin can be increased by some nominal investment, said one technical expert. More than 60 member mills have been audited so far through this exercise.
Under the Energy Management Systems with GIZ, APTMA is working on sustainable Energy Management System (EnMS). As many as 25 selected participating member mills representing spinning, weaving and composite from all over Pakistan benefited from the base line audit, energy managers' training, and installation of energy information system in their units.
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