Daily Time reported that Engineering Development Board has appealed to the industry to conserve energy and mentioned conservation as energy saved is energy produced.

Referring to three major energy consuming sectors industry, transport and domestic, a press released issued revealed that the share of industrial sector during fiscal years declined from 44% to 40 though still being the largest energy consumer. It described the steel sector as the main industrial sub sector which is consuming the major chunk of electricity/gas.

According to careful estimates based on a recent random survey by the EDB and a Dutch expert, around 40% of energy is consumed in steel sector which is highly fragmented consisting about more than 1800 foundries and 400 plus re rolling mills. The EDB observed that these foundries are of small size and are using obsolete and energy inefficient technology.

Currently, the melting capacity available in the country is 4 million tonnes. The melting industry claims that they actually consume 800 units of electricity in melting one tonne of scrap against world 350 to 400 units. This translates into wastage of about 400 units per tonne.

Multiplied by 4 million tonnes capacity, the wastage comes to 1600 MW, equivalent to generation of one large hydroelectric power plant The re rolling sector consumes 130 units of electricity per tonne against global benchmark of 70 to 75 per tonne. To produce about 4 million tonnes of MS products, the wastage comes to about 240 MW.

The EDB has suggested to the government to introduce mandatory energy audits of the industrial sector particularly the steel sector in order to restrain it from using energy in-efficient technology and small scale obsolete melting furnaces. As a first step in this direction, EDB has recently signed MoC with National Productivity Organisation for developing pilot projects in re rolling sector for energy conservation.

(Sourced from www.dailytimes.com.pk)