1. Studies on various aspects of energy efficiency.
(A) energy consumption patterns in Rawalpindi/Islamabad area;
(B) home appliances available in the market in terms of their efficiency, affordability, their relation with different income groups and patterns of usage;
(C) existing legal framework for formulation and enforcement of energy efficiency standards.
2. Awareness-raising and training programs for the promotion of efficient energy use practices both at the community and policy levels.
3. Engagement with concerned government agencies and regulators for formulation and implementation of energy efficient standards.
4. Engagement with manufacturers and dealers to sensitize them about the value of energy efficient home appliances.
Project Results
1 Study on the Existing Institutional-cum-Regulatory Frameworks
The study on the existing institutional-cum-regulatory frameworks was completed in the second quarter. However, the government decided to merge the Natural Gas Regulatory Authority (NGRA) and the proposed Petroleum Regulatory Authority (PRA) in a new regulatory authority titled Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA). It is known that gas and oil/petroleum sector has the tremendous potential to play havoc with the environment. Therefore, the project team decided to critically review and assess the Draft Ordinance of OGRA as well. The draft was reviewed from the perspective of environment and consumers, which brought to the light shortcomings and lacunae in it. The comments were sent to the government quarters and the cabinet members.
2. Comparative Testing of Home Appliances
The selected brands of gas and electric home appliances were sent for testing against various parameters, including quality standards and those related to efficient use of energy to Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR). The PCSIR had assured to deliver the test reports of all the appliances within fifteen days. So far the test reports of the electric appliances have been received by the project team, but the test reports of the gas-consuming appliances are still awaited. The CRCP project team is in regular contact and liaison with the PCSIR in order to expedite the process of testing of home appliances.
3. Engagement with Media
The CRCP project team remained in regular contact with the journalists and media persons and sensitized them about the concerns related to efficient use of energy, quality standards and environment protection in context of gas and electric home appliances.
After the promulgation of the draft Ordinance on the proposed OGRA, the team critically reviewed the draft. It eventually came up with a comprehensive critique of it from the perspective of the consumers and environment. A press briefing was organized to share the findings of the study on draft ordinance on OGRA with the journalists, media persons, civil society activists and representatives from the oil and gas industry. Press releases were issued on the subject and newspaper articles were also published pertaining to the various issues related to the proposed draft of OGRA. In order to make the draft consumer and environment-friendly, a number of informal meetings were also arranged with the media persons and journalists. In addition, a TV talk was also delivered on the issue.
However, the training workshop for the journalists, which was initially scheduled for February, was postponed owing to the delay in receiving the test results of the selected brands of home appliances. It was decided that after receiving the complete test results from the PCSIR, the workshop would be organized so that the findings of the test reports could be shared with the journalists and media persons.
4 Engagement with the Government
In the third quarter of the project, the established links with government organizations including Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA), PCSIR, and Pakistan National Accreditation Council (PNAC) were further strengthened. The government officials were sensitized about the issues related to quality standards of the home appliances, and their link with and impact upon energy efficiency, environment and health related issues. In this regard, engagement with the Ministry of Science and Technology was made for the formulation of quality standards of home appliances and establishment of accredited laboratories.
The project team undertook lobbying activities with regulatory bodies as well. In this regard, engagement was made with the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) for the formulation of quality standards and performance standards. As for the engagement with NGRA, few meetings were arranged with the authorities by the project team, but the engagement came to a halt since NGRA became inoperative for practical purposes. Presently, it is in the process of transition and being merged in the OGRA.
5 Engagement with Manufacturers / Business Sector
In this quarter, successful engagements were made with the manufacturers and meetings were arranged with them. In this regard, the project team arranged a meeting with Gujrat Chamber of Commerce and members of All Pakistan Fan Manufacturers Association in Gujrat, and briefed them about issues related to quality standards pertaining to fans. Not only the need for the standards for home appliances was urged, the manufacturers were also apprised of their linkage with consumer safety, environment protection and energy efficiency.
The project team also met the functionaries of Pakistan Fans Institute in Gujrat. The organization has recently been instituted with the aim of promoting quality assurance and energy efficiency in various categories of fans. Presently, the institute is in a formative phase. Though the required equipments and machines are yet to be acquired by the institute, it is running some short courses for fan manufacturing technicians in order to improve the quality of fans. The CRCP team exchanged views with the functionaries regarding the issues of energy conservation and its linkages with environment and consumer protection.
Similarly, the team also arranged a meeting with the Gas Appliances Manufacturers Association in Gujranwala and sensitized the officials of the association about the issues related to health and safety of consumers, environment protection and energy efficiency in context of gas appliances. Moreover, the need and urgency for having quality standards for gas appliances, particularly the room heaters, was also stressed.
