Thirty million Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs), or energy savers, will be distributed free of charge to non-defaulting domestic consumers under the programme.
Once the 30 million CFLs are distributed, peak electricity demand is expected to be reduced by 1,000 megawatts.
A meeting, chaired by Minister for Water and Power Naveed Qamar on Thursday, decided to accelerate the distribution process and complete it within three to six months, as opposed to the 18 months projected earlier.
The Asian Development Bank and AFD, the French development agency, will provide $85 million in aid for the project.
Distribution mechanism
The energy savers would be distributed in three phases by the distribution companies.
In the first phase, life line consumers, those that consume less than 50 units per month, will be given two CFLs in exchange for two functional incandescent bulbs.
In the second phase, energy savers will be provided to domestic users that consume between 200 and 300 units per month while those that consume more than 300 units will be given CFLs in the third phase.
The ministry of water and power will be in charge of the project management and the order to procure energy savers would be placed in a week, participants at the meeting were informed.
The project would not only help reduce peak demand by over 1,000MW, it would also yield Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) revenues of about $32 million by 2018.
The CDM allows industrialised countries to meet their emission reduction commitments by investing abroad in emission reductions, wherever it is cheapest globally.
The project will also help consumers save Rs300 per bulb, per year in electricity bills. Qamar asked the distribution companies to devise a transparent distribution and monitoring mechanism in addition to an awareness campaign for the consumers, according to a press release.
(Read: Simply unbelievable)
Published in The Express Tribune, February 10th, 2012.
COMMENTS (22)
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I would like raise the attention of the readers towards the allegations of corruption in the proposed CFL project. According to a letter written by Transparency International to the Federal Finance Minister, the procurement of the CFLs for the project under discussion is at 100% higher market rates which would result in an additional cost of Rs 2 billion to the National Exchequer. Please refer: http://www.transparency.org.pk/pm/mof/10%20nov%2011(1).pdf
Yes, this is a bright idea, for corruption.
The biggest and fastest way to "Create Energy" is by saving or using less energy. As far as ALL lighting (Indoor and Outdoor including streetlights) LED bulbs provide the maximum reduction in energy use. Due to this return on investment is fast. Advantages with LED use is too many to describe here. See these youtube links for example http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xn6iI1pFTIo&list=HL1328894844&feature=mh_lolz or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=653OZ9Qv2Bs Pakistan is also the most ideal place to generate Solar Power due to abundant very hot sunshine. Millions of megawatts of solar energy is coming down on Pakistan soil, getting absorbed and wasted into the ground. Pakistan must harness this energy on most urgent basis.
1000 MW saving won't come from life line consumers using 50 units or less in a month! They are already getting the lowest tariff. Utilize this aid for maximum efficiency. I suggest first priority should be given to the employees of WAPDA/LESCO/KESC etc. getting certain units free because they are not worried about their bill. Next consider ministers -- homes & offices. They are also not worried about their bills. Look at places where poor taxpayers money is spent like there is no tomorrow. I was living in New York City during 1980s and Con Edison shipped 2 energy savers to all consumers and charged for shipping only. Thus all consumers got the energy savers with no lines for exchange or pick up. I believe they saved over 200 MW!
A nation where earthquick aid and flood efectees aid was sold in super stores and open markets, and not a single consumer objected on it. where moral grounds and ethics are not known, how it is possible to distribute items like CFL which can easily be mishandled, i cant belive that this scehme is fruitfull, by investing 85m$ in idusry can produce cheaper CFL and hence cheaper product easily availble for conumer to purchase and use.
Savers have a very short life in case of fluctuations and use with u.p.s and generators. I think this scheme was also implemented in earlier days of this Government. This will again prove to be a
WARDAT.@Cautious: LED's are not that much useful for reading. The light from LED is sharp and hurts the eyes. Light from LED's are focused and not spread as in CFL's. You can use LED's for billboards and not inside house.
This idea of free CFL lights is great. The customers would find the benefits and switch to CFL's on their own as CFL's last much longer than incandescent lights. However, there are disposal problems that needs to be addressed properly.
Sorry to give the bad news to Pakistan government. You are always behind. CFLs are now going away and being replaced by LED lighting. CFL contains mercury and thus not environmentally friendly. Secondly LED bulbs use 90% less energy than old filament bulbs. Good quality LED bulbs cost more up but payback is very fast and benefits too many. Biggest benefit is LED bulbs are most ideal for use with Solar energy. I know because I am one of the global pioneers of the LED light bulbs since 1972.
@You don't get it!:
Boss i think you don't know what this article says , it has nothing to do with the improved Power line ... they are doing this so you can improve the energy efficiency and save the power. In the long run it will save a lot of power energy. 70% of the consumers living in interiors or country side of our country do not pay the bills (Line losses) , Government , Ministers , Secretaries are not the persons who will go and collect the bills and cut these line losses . You cannot fight with corrupt system , there are not enough resources or man power or the Strict Laws to prevent this line losses because people are corrupt and thieves . Now if the argument comes to the point that they are unable to afford it , Let me clear it to you that these line losses are happening since ages, any disease not take care for long time will become Cancer eventually . That is what has happened .
Greetings,
The idea does seem well thought of, it may even work, but than again, I can't help but agree with "Abeer" that Yes ! It smells more corruption.
Well how about some Citizen Feedback from my end?? How about, Lets say, bar the line men of KESC from accepting bride in return for SMALL favors such as "slowing down the meters" or "direct lines for AC in Summers", or how about eliminating even "Kunda" from every single Basti and other shady areas and charging them for the little invention called Electricity.
Think beyond 1,000 Mega Watts, think about zero electricity theft in the first place.
Regards.
let see how much they will get from this
let c how long it takes :(
Now that is really commendable!! Bravo!
The Asian Development Bank and AFD, the French development agency, will provide $85 million in aid for the project.
Aid or a Loan?
This is one of the easiest and cheapest things that can be done to reduce consumption of electricity right away. These bulbs use only a fraction of the current compared to old bulbs and last much longer. In addition CFL do not generate much heat thus requiring less of cooling fans and AC in already hot climate. Another useful tool that can be used is having exhausts in kitchens and baths to remove the heat from the homes. The govt must spend more money on the public welfare and not waste on expensive war toys. The nuclear knowhow must now be used to generate power for the public and industries.
Excellent solution to Energy crisis....long live democracy and a government who believes in a policy of reconciliation
Smells more corruption
Now, this is democracy! Regards, Rehan
If your serious about converting then buy inexpensive LED's (from China) or better yet make them yourselves as the process is relatively simple and you don't have the environmental issues associated with CFL's.
Very Nice!
CFLs? Is our powerline so good that we are jumping to CFLs. Why don't we solve power problems first. UPS power is already a big problem for electronic components.