CFL bulb distribution starts Saturday

The countrywide free distribution of 2.80 crore pieces of compact florescent lamps kicks off Saturday. This drive will save at least 300-400 megawatt (MW) of electricity a day, Power Secretary M Abul Kalam Azad has said.
At a press briefing at his office in Dhaka yesterday, Azad said 90 lakh valid electricity subscribers will get the CFL bulbs until June 30, 2011 in different phases.
Of the total quantity, 55 lakh bulbs will be distributed in 27 districts on Saturday and 50 lakh within March next in the first phase of the programme. In the second phase, 1.75crore CFL bulbs will be distributed.
The Rural Electrification Board is implementing the project, Efficient Lighting Initiative for Bangladesh.
The Danish government will give Tk 168 crore (6.5 million euros) for the Tk 275.84 crore project. This grant is coming through the Carbon Trading Programme, sponsored by the World Bank.
The power secretary also informed the journalists that no subscriber would get more than four bulbs. He said anybody willing to receive such energy-saving bulb will have to show the latest electricity payment bill and incandescent bulbs as proofs to the distributor at any booth.
The 27 districts that have been brought under the first phase coverage include Khulna, Jessore, Kushtia, Jhenidah, Chuadanga, Faridpur, Rajbari, Madaripur, Gopalganj, Bagerhat, Dhaka, Gazipur, Tangail, Chapainababganj, Sylhet, Rangpur, Chittagong, Comilla, Gaibandha, Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Mymensingh, Kishoreganj, Netrokona, Rajshahi and Natore.
Toufiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, the prime minister's energy adviser, pointed out that the power supply situation in Dhaka deteriorated recently because of the suspension of gas supply from Bhangura and Sangu gas fields following technical glitches in the pipelines.
He, however, expected an improvement in the situation in a day or two on completion of the repair work on both the gas fields.
The adviser said the coal policy formulation is progressing. He reiterated the government's plan to generate 9,426 MW of electricity by 2015 and 20,000 MW by 2021.
State Minister for Energy Enamul Huq was also present on the occasion.