Solutions Presented by APTMA to Resolve Gas, Energy Crisis

Looking forward to address the unrelenting issue of gas and energy crisis hampering the textile industry, the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) has come out with short, medium and long-term solutions for addressing the issue.
 
The suggestions were presented by APTMA Group Leader Gohar Ejaz to Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.
 
For short-term, APTMA suggested providing gas supply to the Captive Power Plants (CPPs) on hourly-basis to ensure optimum utilization of capacity by textile industries in the province that primarily use gas as their source of energy.
 
Also, stressing on ensuring regular power supply to units operating with electricity as the prime source of energy, Mr. Ejaz said just five percent of the textile units use electricity as prime source of energy, and these units have already been exempted from loadshedding, but the measure lacks proper implementation.
 
The CM positively received the proposal of providing gas on hourly-basis rather than fixing it to certain number of days, and even assured to implement electricity loadshedding at the earliest.
 
Mr. Ejaz raised concerns regarding gas availability for the industry during the months of December, January and February, when the new cotton arrival kicks off.
 
He said the industry would need unrelenting power supply during the period to keep the CPPs running, and as a medium-term solution he suggested expediting LNG import from all possible locations.
 
The CM appreciated this proposal too and ensured uninterrupted gas supply during the cotton harvesting period.
 
Presenting the long-term solution, Convener International Trade Committee APTMA and member Energy Task Force Punjab government Amir Fayyaz suggested installation of Large Power Producers (LPPs) in coastal areas with capacity to produce 3000MW electricity from coal, in an environment-friendly pattern. The cost of generating electricity through these LPPs would not exceed Pk Rs. 8 per unit, he added.
 
He said APTMA members would not only be the shareholders contributing to investment, but at the same time would also be end consumers of the power so generated.
 
Positively responding to the proposal, Mr. Sharif said the state government may also consider joining APTMA as a shareholder in this venture.