(AFP Photo)
A senior official at the Ministry of Electricity stated that 2.4m LED light bulbs that do not conform with Egypt’s national electricity network specifications will be imported as part of a tender to import 10m LED light bulbs which the ministry plans to supply to the local market.
According to the official, the 2.4m LED bulbs have a 0.4% power factor while the power factor of the electricity network is 0.9%. This will demonstrate adverse effects on the network, the official said.
The official explained that “international specifications for electrical networks power factors are 0.4% but Egyptian specifications stand at 0.9%, and this will result in a significant waste of energy as well as decreased efficiency.”
The ministry is striving to ration electricity consumption by around 20% through two main plans. The first plan involves intensifying energy-saving campaigns through various media outlets during the coming four years, while the second entails expanding the use of LED bulbs, the official said.
The official explained that the energy-saving campaigns launched by the ministry during the first half of 2014 have failed to achieve their goals, citing an upswing in consumption over the last few weeks as evidence. The surge resulted in additional pressure on the network and increased power outages.
The official said that, at present, 72 foreign and local companies have applied for the tender.
Electricity subsidy allocations within the 2014/2015 fiscal year budget amount to EGP 27bn. The government aims to lift the subsidies over the next five years and announced prices for electricity generated from solar and wind energy for households and investors last week.
Price ranges between EGP 0.84-1.02 per kWh for energy purchased from solar power stations and EGP 0.32-0.82 per kWh for wind.
President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi stated that the Egypt’s electricity network requires between $12bn-13 bn in investments over the coming five years in order for the power outage crisis to be overcome.
The official said: “Anti-electricity theft campaigns conducted by security authorities will limit increased consumption, which municipalities will pay for.”
He stated that placing responsibility for these costs on the municipalities is the main reason behind the failure of local government bodies to pay the dues to the Ministry of Electricity.
According to the official, the ministry aims to install the LED bulbs in various government ministries and institutions as well as public roads in a move to reduce electricity consumption.
