CEO STDC: An Interview

Tell us something about your credentials?I graduated back in 1984 from Mehran University of Engineering & Technology and started serving K-Electric, then KESC and during my stay in K-Electric I served many areas, viz. Meter Test Department, 11 KV operations, Protection and Control of Grid Systems. Also During my stay I pursued my Masters in Economics & Finance and successfully completed in 2003.
In 2007, I resigned from K-Electric and moved to Canada to raise my family and during my stay in Canada I served SNC-Lavalin for 4 years as Project Engineering Lead on completed 10 Transmission Line and Substation Projects, before that I also remain associated with companies viz. Moeller Electric, Rexroth_Bosch Group, ABB in one way or the other. While in Canada, I also pursued a Master's in Business Management with Major in Management Accounting. I am a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and Risk Management Professional (RMP) Certification in Kaizen and Six Sigma
Where do you see your company in next few years?In next 5 years of Strategic planning STDC will play its role to help in complementing the National effort for a big audacious hairy goal to eliminate load shedding and large black outs specifically in province of Sindh. STDC will identify the gap between existing and required status of electric Power Infrastructure and will prioritize the projects, year wise to accomplish our goals.
What is difference and key features of your company as compared to other companies engaged in same service?Being private limited, STDC is a fast paced company. Our management and working environment believes on finding solutions to the problems rather than lingering on the problems in the traditional management style. We focus on 'quality' for which we have also acquired ISO 9001 Quality Management System certification. Besides this, we respect the environment which we express through the logo of our company. We have taken initiative to acquire Environmental Management System ISO 14001 certification as well.
Does your company has any plan of introducing new technologies in current system?
Apart from our core business of provision of T & D infrastructure, STDC is going to be a knowledge base company and with a cumulative experience of 62 years of Management we are abreast of new technologies such as Smart Grids, Virtual Power Plant, Energy Storage, Mini Grid, Micro Grid, Community Grid, Community Electricity Storage and provision of ancillary services to National Grid, which we wish to introduce.
What are your future aspirations as a company?STDC is working to be a Triple Bottom Line company viz, all our activities are geared towards, socially acceptable, environmentally friendly and economically viable. Hence we care about People, Planet and Profits.
STDC has strict compliance towards corporate governance and we see ourselves as a Best Managed Government owned company.
How STDC would play its role to help eliminate the power crisis in Sindh?STDC was established, envisioning that it will fill the gap wherever there are distressed projects waiting evacuation from National Transmission & Dispatch Company to complement the efforts for a reliable electric power infrastructure in country. Hence STDC will do the same.
What will be the economic effect in Sindh when this transmission line project will be fully operational?It will help in reducing the average Tariff, K- electric accumulates from different kind of sources to make a basket Tariff and ultimate cost reduction is passed on to end consumer. Moreover addition of 100MW will definitely help to move the wheel of Industry and encourage ultimate job creation.
What is your company policy regarding human safety and clean environment?
"Safety First" is our Motto and in this regard we have gone an extra mile. Since last two years we are OHSAS 18001 certified and procedures are in place. Safety has a policy of "Zero Tolerance" and no worker or staff is allowed to work without Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) with Harness while working beyond specified heights. Moreover we have established a safety division comprising four resources headed by a Senior General Manager, who himself is trained locally and with International certification from IOSH. Rest of the team members have attended awareness training on Safety and working towards International Certifications.
How is STDC any different from the NTDC?
STDC is not a competitor of NTDC rather a complementary arm of NTDC for a cause of reliable electric power in Pakistan, with a specific focus in Sindh. However STDC has focused on organizational behavior and have three distinct characteristics:
STDC has an open door policy-No appointments necessary, just drop in to share ideas of business or suggestions.
STDC is a good listener- No project is small or big, we are open to work with investors, lenders and financial institutions.
STDC has a clean table policy- Investment proposals are quickly seen and processed.
Who will be your regulator?
Electricity is a regulated Industry in Pakistan and so far there is only one National Regulator and we are in compliance of the NEPRA Act. Though 18th constitutional amendment (2010) devoluted the powers to provinces to Generate, Transmit and Distribute the electric power within provinces and can determine the prices at their own and also NEPRA act 7(4) states that the provinces may construct power houses and grid stations and lay transmission lines for use within the province and determine the tariff for distribution of electricity within the province.
Any way we have to comply whether it falls under National or Provincial Regulator in future.
What is the level of investment that will go in STDC?
It is a premature question as we are initiating a study to find a gap of power infrastructure available and is required in next five years according to demographics and per capita consumption. From thereon STDC could ascertain the priority projects, year wise to provide Sindh a reliable electric power infrastructure.
Will it not be an overlap with the NTDC?
Not at all, rather we are complementing the NTDC wherever they show their inability for a fast paced project.
We feel STDC is completely harmonized with NTDC for a national cause.
What kind of systems and instruments you are going to use to monitor the continuous transmission and condition monitoring of high voltage transmission line?
Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) has been proposed to monitor the uninterrupted transmission of power, whereas at present PLC system is in place for communication.
STDC is in creation of Asset Management Group, (under certification process of ISO 55000) instead of conventional Operation and Maintenance (O & M) division. New management concepts are being introduced. We are also poised to use latest technology for predictive maintenance to be aware ahead of time. We are working towards using Robotic Technologies and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) where we are evaluating the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) for Transmission Line condition monitoring. Currently Pakistan Civil Aviation compliance requirement is under study in STDC.