Cabinet Likely To Approve Proposed Energy Conservation Plan

A 12-point energy conservation plan has been developed and will be presented to the federal cabinet for approval at the upcoming meeting next week, according to sources.

Cabinet Likely To Approve Proposed Energy Conservation Plan

The upcoming federal cabinet meeting is expected to approve a proposed 12-point energy conservation plan that will benefit the country with Rs 353 billion in annual savings, according to reliable sources on Saturday.

According to sources, a 12-point energy conservation plan has been developed and will be presented to the federal cabinet for approval at the upcoming meeting next week.

Multiple sessions were held in the power division to identify, evaluate, and strategize potential energy efficiency and conservation measures, according to them. Furthermore, it was discovered that there was an urgent need for upgrading energy efficiency and conservation standards, as well as strict enforcement and compliance.

They stated that other key areas identified for action as a national priority were the replacement of inefficient appliances and consumer awareness of responsible energy use. According to sources, Federal Minister of Defense Khawaja Muhammad Asif has completed consultations with stakeholders.

They added that a detailed plan and implementation strategy had been developed after extensive consultation and evaluation of various efficiency and conservation measures.”If the federal cabinet approves the proposed energy conservation plan, the country will benefit from Rs 353 billion in annual savings,” according to sources.

They added that the proposed 12-point energy conservation plan can benefit the country only with the cooperation of the federal and provincial governments.

The government has proposed 12-point energy conservation plan under which measures including work from home, restaurants, hotels and markets closing timings, and water conservation have been proposed.

Documents available with Profit disclosed the implementation roadmap of the proposed plans. Other measures include stopping manufacturing of incandescent bulbs, procurement of energy efficient fans, mandatory conical baffles for new geysers and energy efficient housing.

In this regard, the Cabinet Division, IPC (for coordination with provinces), the Ministry of Industries and Production, FBR, PPRA, NEECA, Power Division, provincial governments, Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC), the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Petroleum, SNGPL/SSGCL, the Cabinet Division, Provincial Chief Secretaries, ICT/CDA, and PEMRA will all play a role in putting the proposed energy conservation plan into action.

Under the proposed energy conservation plan, working from home for 20% of the workforce can save Rs 58 billion, while wedding halls’ closing times will be limited to 10 p.m., and restaurants, hotels, and markets’ closing times will be limited to 8 p.m. This measure,  after implementation, can save Rs 62 billion per year, while the Cabinet Division’s IPC (for coordination with provinces) will issue directions to provinces to implement the said measures under Article 149 (4) of Pakistan’s constitution.

Similarly, the deadline set to stop the manufacturing of inefficient fans is July 1st, 2023, while it is estimated that the imposition of tax or duty on inefficient fans can save Rs 15 billion, and the Ministry of Industries and Production and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) will play their roles to implement this measure.

Similarly, stopping the production of incandescent bulbs on February 1st, 2023, and imposing a tax or duty on inefficient bulbs can save Rs 22 billion, with the Ministry of Industries and Production and the FBR ensuring implementation. Furthermore, PPRA and NEECA will ensure the procurement of energy-efficient fans and LED/energy-efficient equipment by public sector organisations (only public sector organisations will procure energy-efficient equipment).

According to the proposed energy conservation plan’s implementation roadmap, energy-efficient measures will be incorporated into building codes and housing society bye-laws by civic and building control authorities, Power Division, provincial governments, and the Pakistan Engineering Council.

The Ministry of Industries and Production, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Petroleum, and SNGPL/SSGCL will ensure the implementation of mandatory conical baffles for new geyser manufacturing by December 2023, and the installation of conical baffles in existing geysers in one year can save Rs 92 billion annually, beginning immediately after approval in Islamabad.

According to the document, the Cabinet Division and Provincial Chief Secretaries will ensure the implementation of alternate switching-off streetlights by issuing directions to provinces under Article 149(4) of Pakistan’s constitution, and this measure will save Rs 4 billion per year.

According to available documents, E-bikes will be encouraged, while duties on E-bike manufacturing will be eliminated. Charging stations will be established beginning in Lahore and Islamabad, and the Ministry of Industries and Production and FBR will ensure implementation of this measure.