admin
Thandeka Moyo, Chronicle Reporter
ENERGY and Power Development Minister Cde Simon Khaya Moyo yesterday launched a $95 000 energy efficiency project at Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo.
The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) installed the LED bulbs that will see the health institution’s energy consumption dropping by 65 percent.
LED bulbs have a long life span of up to 10 years despite the slightly higher initial cost.
Mpilo got 5 750 new incandescent light bulbs that replaced old and banned ones which consumed a lot of power.
The bulbs will last for about 10 years before they can be replaced.
Speaking at the handover ceremony yesterday, Cde Khaya Moyo said the project was in line with President Mnangagwa’s vision of reviving productivity in Zimbabwe.
“The project was undertaken at a cost of $95 000 and the payback period is about 36 months. The initiative involved the changing of 5 750 energy guzzling bulbs and tubes with aggregate demand of 325kVA (kilovolt amps),” he said.
“With the new energy efficient lighting emitting diode (LED) bulbs, there is a 245kVA drop in consumption for institution”. Cde Khaya Moyo said Government is worried about the prevalence of poor quality LED bulbs on the market.
“Several retailers have been prosecuted while Zera has confiscated the banned incandescent bulbs with a combined 30MW which is enough to power a third of Bulawayo,” he said.
The energy efficiency intervention, according to the Minister, reduces lighting related energy consumption from approximately 9 500kWh per month to less than 3 000 kWh per month.
“This project covers all wards, offices, specialist unit, facilities (laundry, kitchens, mortuary etc) nurses’ home and security lighting. The majority of the replaced lighting bulbs were banned incandescent bulbs and tubes which produce 95 percent heat with only 5 percent being light,” added Cde Khaya Moyo.
He also said with the new LED bulbs, Mpilo is set to reduce its monthly energy bill by about 20 percent. “I wish to announce that all the 5 720 bulbs installed here at Mpilo Central Hospital were manufactured locally thus saving foreign currency and sustaining employment,” Cde Khaya Moyo said.
He encouraged members of the public to switch off bulbs, use liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for cooking and solar geysers for water heating to save power.
Cde Khaya Moyo also said the country needs electricity to accelerate the modernisation of the agricultural sector and to stimulate technology development in commerce.
Zera board chairperson Dr Ester Khosa said Zera’s mandate was to regulate the energy sector in Zimbabwe in a fair, transparent, efficient and cost effective manner for the benefit of consumers and energy suppliers. —@thamamoe
Online Reporter