Chief Executive Officer (CEO) LESCO Ch Muhammad Amin has assured All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) Punjab Chairman Abdul Rahim Nasir that LESCO will ensure that all industry in general and export industry, in particular, gets electricity supply without any interruptions or power fluctuations. He said this while talking to APTMA delegation led by Mr Abdul Rahim Nasir, Chairman and including Mr Aamir Sheikh, Senior Vice Chairman, APTMA Punjab and Mr Mohammad Raza Baqir, Secretary-General and Executive Director APTMA.
Rahim Nasir apprised LESCO management that the present capping of 5 MW for B3 industrial consumers and requirement for separate grid connection for load beyond 5 MW is obstructing further investment.
Even meagre additional load of 500 kW to 1 MW entails heavy investment and financial cost. Due to excess electricity and acute gas shortage in the country, the Federal Government is now pushing the industry to switch over to grid based electricity and offering incentives like a reduced tariff on incremental electricity consumption. Such initiatives are, however, frustrated due to enormous investments involved in getting an additional load.
With a view to facilitate exporters and to enable them to meet growing demand of export orders, APTMA proposed that the grid ceiling may kindly be enhanced from 5 MW to 6.
5 MW for B3 industrial consumers. This small gesture will go a long way in boosting up exports, augmenting foreign exchange earnings, and creating additional employment opportunities.
LESCO management understanding the gravity of the situation endorsed the demand for considerably enhancing the grid ceiling and advised APTMA to submit the proposal to NEPRA for across the board implementation of the policy. He assured APTMA of all out support by LESCO on this issue subject to technical capacities.
On the proposal of APTMA, CEO LESCO agreed that the maintenance period schedule would be prepared in consultation with APTMA and all mills would be informed in advance about any such maintenance closures. Ch Amin, CEO LESCO further announced that there would be no load shedding, power shut down, or voltage fluctuations for the industry.
He appreciated the role of the textile sector in upsurging exports of the country despite the adverse effects of Covid 19 and committed to going all out to resolve any power related issues of the export-oriented industry. Rahim Nasir acknowledged the role of LESCO in facilitating the industrial consumers and expressed the hope that a business-friendly approach of the government agencies would materialize the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan regarding an increase in exports.
