Evaluation of the implementation of energy efficiency measures in sugar industry and vegetable oil industry using SWOT and QSPM methods

Food industry in Iran is one of the major energy consuming industries. Sugar industry and vegetable oil industry are one of the main energy consuming industries in the food industry. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the implementation of energy efficiency improvement measures in sugar and vegetable oil industries. In this study, it was attempted to apply SWOT analysis to develop strategies for the improvement of energy efficiency measures in the mentioned industries. This analysis includes the current effects (strengths and weaknesses) and the effects of future development (opportunities and threats). Also, the QSPM matrix was used to determine the relative attractiveness of the developed strategies. After examining the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats associated with implementation of energy efficiency improvement measures in the studied industries, the results of analysis by IFE and EFE matrices showed that strengths are less than the weaknesses and the opportunities of development are more than the threats. According to the results, development of strategies to improve the implementation of energy efficiency measures in the sugar and vegetable oil industries seems to be necessary. Among the strategies developed in this study, “establishing a proper system for policy making and implementation of policies, rules and regulations related to the energy sector and presenting a series of detailed rules for enforcing existing rules” are at the top of the strategyies