SMEDA Helps 75 Industrial Units In SME Sector

Fahad Shabbir (@FahadShabbir) Published November 09, 2016 | 06:35 PM

LAHORE, Nov 9 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 09th Nov, 2016 ) : Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) has helped 75 industrial units in seven major SME sectors to reduce cost of doing business by conducting energy audits and implementing innovative Energy Management System.

Quoting a vigilant study, the Authority spokesman said here Wednesday that energy cost as a share of total production cost ranges from 20 to 50 per cent in different industrial sectors. SMEDA, taking cognisance of the issue.

developed a special initiative for energy audit followed by an innovative Energy Management System in collaboration with its international partners like German International Cooperation (GIZ) and Training and Development Centers of Bavarian Employers' Associatio.

Forty-two, out of total 75 units, have been facilitated through the energy audit program and 33 units have been supported by developing Energy Management Systems. The facilitated units belong to spinning, weaving, processing, jute, auto-parts, furniture and marble sectors.

As a result of the interventions, these units have been enabled to save energy from 10 to 30 per cent, depending on the nature of the respective sector. Meanwhile, In-charge of the Industry Support Program Ashfaq Ahmad has said that that an energy management system, like all other management systems, is a formal system, which offers a structured approach in dealing with energy issues for continuous improvement.

At international level EN16001 and ISO50001 are the standards for Energy Management System aiming to help organizations in establishing the systems and processes necessary to improve energy efficiency, he said.

It is worth mentioning that to ensure implementation of the EnMS, SMEDA has also provided proper training to the selected SMEs and to continue facilitation for other units of the SME sector, a network of the Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) has been developed and trained to work on performance contracting basis.