Power outages for three months: textile industry bears over $1 billion loss

The textile industry has borne a loss of over one billion dollars on an average in three months (November, December and January) due to severe energy load shedding, which hit the overall economic growth, exports and employment in the country. According to the industry sources, the Aptma members consume about 1,500MW electricity.
Some 75 percent are one captive power generation and 25 percent are connected with grid. The electricity is 40 percent of the conversion cost of the industry, added the sources.
About 76 spinning and weaving mills of Aptma are prime users and solely dependent on electricity provided by the Pepco network. Total load of such textile mills is about 230MW. The industry sources pointed out that average rate of electricity tariff for textile industry has increased from Rs 3.70 per unit in 2006 to present rate of Rs 8.50 per unit (including F.A.S.). They added that the Aptma mills have been enduring to 8 to 12 hours scheduled and unscheduled load shedding.
So far as the captive power units are concerned, said the industry sources, total gas load of Aptma is 240mmcfd, mainly used for power generation. Total load consumed by the Aptma members on SNGPL system is 180mmcfd against 60mmcfd on the SSGC system.
The industry circles are of the view that gas supply to the CNG pumps has put the textile industry into a troublesome situation and a supply suspension to the pumps may put the industry back on track. The CNG pump owners, on the other hand, firmly believe that availability of gas to the vehicles is more urgent to facilitate the public. Therefore, gas supply to the textile mills should be suspended during high-pressure period.