Taimoor Khan
PESHAWAR
In a significant move to reduce energy consumption, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to audit industrial establishments and commercial buildings in the province.
The approval of maps for newly constructed industries and buildings will now be subject to the permission of the Inspectorate of Electricity. Additionally, a new rule is being formulated that will require the auditing of all electrical appliances installed in new constructions to determine their suitability for minimal electricity usage.
The installation of these devices will be permitted based on their suitability.
Inspector Ehsan Khattak of the Provincial Inspectorate of Electricity stated that under the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority Act, provinces are empowered to take measures to conserve energy and minimize its consumption.
According to Khattak, the KP government “has made complete plans for this work.”
The initiative will be rolled out in phases: the first phase will target energy consumption in industries, the second phase in commercial centers and shops, the third phase in government buildings, and the final phase in homes.
Khattak emphasized that saving energy and minimizing its use will not only reduce energy production or improve its transmission and distribution system but also benefit industrial owners by significantly lowering their electricity bills.
He assured that his department has experienced staff will visit sites and provide recommendations on reducing electricity consumption in buildings and factories. Owners will be required to implement these recommendations.
Muhammad Ali, Deputy Manager of the Center for Industrial and Building Energy Assessment, the only company in KP capable of conducting energy audits, noted that there is a lack of awareness about energy saving in the province.
However, rising electricity prices in the industrial sector are driving the demand for energy audits. Many industrialists are proactively seeking ways to reduce electricity use in their establishments. According to Ali, energy consumption in audited industrial establishments can be reduced by up to twenty-five percent.
Ali explained that an energy audit for an industrial plant or building costs between Rs 400,000 to Rs 500,000, takes five to seven days to complete, and an additional fifteen to twenty days to prepare the report. During the audit, they assess the type of machinery used and the efficiency of electrical equipment to identify any defects causing energy wastage.
Sources indicate that the departments responsible for approving maps in the province lack electrical engineers and awareness about efficient energy use. Until the Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) is legalized, its implementation remains challenging.
Malik Zahid, a lecturer at the University of Engineering, highlighted that the ECBC is adapted from India and Bangladesh and requires amendments to suit Pakistan’s environment. He also stressed the need for energy-related training for civil engineers in the relevant departments to enable effective implementation.
