Kulman Ghising, the managing director of Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), on Tuesday said that the power utility was buying energy-efficient LED bulbs from India to enhance its demand-side management.
The NEA chief, who has earned admiration from all quarters for cutting power cuts since last year, argued that the 20 million LED that NEA is buying will be instrumental for addressing the projected gap between demand and supply for the next dry season that starts from November. The demand is projected to increase by 200 MW in the coming dry season.“We want to distribute 20 million LED lamps to our consumers for saving 200 MW of electricity. It is also a part of market intervention by providing LED bulbs at cheaper price,” Ghising told a press meet on Tuesday.
NEA organized the press meet to refute corruption allegation in the LED lamps procurement deal.
Once the LED lamps are distributed to all consumers, it will lower electricity import cost worth Rs 5 billion annually, according to NEA.The cabinet meeting held on Thursday has allowed NEA to purchase LED lamps from Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), and Indian government undertaking, at Rs 104 (IRs 65) per unit.EESL has agreed to supply the lamps at the Hetauda-based warehouse of the NEA.
Consumers will get the 9 watt LED lamps of Philips and Osram brands at Rs 140 per unit. The price is inclusive of 20 percent customs tax and 13 percent Value Added Tax. NEA plans to distribute the bulbs to consumers from its services centers and revenue collection counters.