LAHORE: The implementation of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Program (REEE) yielded per annum savings of Rs 400 million for Pakistan’s textile industry.

Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Smeda) had initiated the program in collaboration with the GIZ, a Germany-based organisation.

A meeting between Bernhard Mayhofer, Principal Advisor, REEE program-GIZ, Germany, with Yousaf Naseem Khokhar, Chief Executive Officer of Smeda took place here on Wednesday.

The CEO Smeda welcomed the GIZ’s principal advisor and assured him of full cooperation from Smeda for the expansion of the REEE Programme.

Mayhofer said that success in implementation of energy efficiency activities of the REEE Program could not have been possible without the cooperation of Smeda.

“By our joint efforts in the textile sector, All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma) members have reported energy saving up to 83.5 million kilowatts hour (kWh) per year,” he said.

“The GIZ is willing to develop a formal certification system for energy managers and qualification criteria for energy service companies under the small and medium enterprises (SME) portfolio,” he added.

“Smeda officials from the departments, other than Industry Support Cell, can also be engaged in this connection,” he added.

CEO Smeda reiterated that programs like REEE were a dire need in the prevailing energy crisis.

He appreciated the inclusion of food and beverages, steel and glass sectors in the program and provided assurance that all respective trade bodies would be involved in the expansion.