Energy crisis: Aptma decides to close down 43 percent capacity

World''s third largest spinning industry of Pakistan has decided to close down 43 percent capacity immediately owing to energy crisis in the country. An extra ordinary general meeting of Aptma held at the Aptma Punjab office Wednesday and discussed the ongoing severe energy crisis in the country.
The meeting lauded the efforts of the Chairman Aptma and the government of Pakistan in putting their best efforts to give priority to the industry for gas as well as electricity supply. The meeting also appreciated the President for giving top priority to resolving issues pertaining to industry, especially in Punjab.
The SNGPL and Pepco, in spite of instructions from the President Asif Ali Zardari, are both curtailing industry supply to the textile industry. It has brought industry to a situation to take prudent decision not to run on alternate fuel during the disconnection of gas supply period for three days a week, ie 12 days a month until May 2011. This will bring production capacity down from 225,000 tons to 110,000 tons per month.
The members also noted that they have tried to serve the downstream industry by using expensive alternate fuel like diesel to make possible the vision of Chairman Aptma touching $14 billion export target this fiscal year but the alternate fuel like diesel cannot be used now to meet energy requirement for production till matter is resolved. It may be noted that the spinning industry confidence survey has revealed that the ongoing crisis has already resulted into closure of 29 percent production capacity in the country.