Zesa wants country to use energy-saving bulbs
Apr 16, 2011 1:16 PM | By VLADIMIR MZACA
Zimbabwe has a shortfall of 400 megawatts (MW) of electricity of the 2000MW
required daily and the country’s power utility intends to cover that through
the introduction of energy-saving legislation.
The country currently produces only 1300MW and imports 300MW, leaving a
shortfall of 400MW.
The Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa) has urged policymakers to
introduce a bill that will force electricity users to opt for energy-saving
lights and do away with incandescent light bulbs.
“The best way to go around the energy issue is to lobby for the banning of
incandescent light bulbs. We have in the past pushed for parliament to look
at the issue,” said Fullard Gwasira, the spokesman for Zesa.
If the authority has its wish granted it would like to see legislation that
puts incandescent bulbs on a high import tariff.
If this happens, they would become a luxury and fewer people would prefer
them and switch to energy-savers, most of which are produced locally.
“Energy-savers use less power and are more durable compared to incandescent
light bulbs,” said Gwasira.
Incandescent light bulbs have been banned in other parts of the world.
In 2009 a Europe-wide campaign to ban incandescent bulbs began.
The only complaint has been that energy-saving bulbs are not as bright as
the incandescent ones.
“The whole world wants to save energy and banning these bulbs is one of the
ways,” Gwasira said.