As energy prices increase across Pakistan, businesses are realizing the financial savings that can be made by improving the energy efficiency of appliances and motors. To support this, CLASP and SAMA^Verte’s Industry Accelerator Program is transforming Pakistan’s electric motor industry, offering significant economic and environmental benefits.

In 2020, CLASP and SAMA^Verte provided technical support to Pakistan’s National Energy Efficiency & Conservation Authority (NEECA) to develop the country’s first mandatory energy efficiency standards for electric motors. If fully implemented, these standards could save consumers Rs.950 billion PKR ($6.3 billion USD) in electricity costs by 2030 and reduce CO₂ emissions by 23.6 megatons (Mt).

Upskilling Local Manufacturers to Improve Efficiency

Despite the introduction of these improved standards, local manufacturers have struggled to produce motors that meet the new efficiency levels, threatening jobs and increasing the reliance on imported motors. Recognizing these challenges, CLASP and SAMA^Verte launched the multi-year Industry Accelerator Program to support local manufacturers to develop, test, and manufacture motors that comply with the new standards. Improving the efficiency of nationally built motors will not only lower local power bills, it will also strengthen the competition in the domestic supply and create new export opportunities.

Learning from International Best Practices

The program brought experts from the Turkish Manufacturers Association (EMOSAD) to upskill Pakistani manufacturers and improve product designs, raw material selection, and the manufacturing processes.

The collaboration has led to significant improvements in local motor design and quality, paving the way for local production to meet international standards.

Positive Results Indicate a Promising Future

The Industry Accelerator Program has already shown promising results. The first motor, meeting IE1 efficiency class, has now been produced in Pakistan – an important step on the globally recognized scale of motor efficiency standards, and a significant milestone in developing Pakistan’s motor industry. This initiative is expected to increase the capability of these manufacturers to produce IE1 level motors by the end of 2024. The program’s efforts are projected to reduce CO₂ emissions by 12.8 Mt by 2050 and improve efficiency by 10%. Additionally, manufacturers have invested $123,000 USD in new equipment, supporting around 5,000 employees and their families, and making the supply chain more consistent and cost-effective.

As local manufacturers continue to improve, innovate and meet efficiency standards, the country’s production of better motors that require less power, are a crucial step towards self-sufficiency, reducing import dependency, and fostering economic growth while protecting local jobs.