In a bid to create a road map for the energy sector to improve its reliability and quality service to its customers, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), last Saturday, launched a new energy awareness programme called the Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) project, at a ceremony held at the Sogea Transformer Sub-station in Kanifing South.

Speaking at the launch ceremony, Alhagie B Gaye, the director general of PURA, said the aim of the project is to raise public awareness about energy efficiency by demonstrating the economic and environmental benefits of using simple alternative technologies such as CFLs for lighting homes and premises.

He added that the project will also highlight concerted efforts by all stakeholders to ensure that energy efficiency as a national policy objective, championed by the Department of State for Energy is attained.

“Compact fluorescent lamps consume less electricity than regular incandescent bulbs. Indeed, incandescent bulbs whilst cheaper, suffer the disadvantage of converting most of the electric energy into heat rather than light. This is easily realised by simply touching them. For the average household buying a bulb means walking into a corner-shop and purchasing an incandescent bulb for just ten dalasis irrespective of the wattage, ranging from 40 Watts to 100 Watts,” Mr Gaye remarked.

Mr Gaye also disclosed that the pilot project will install 2000 CFLs free of charge in the Kanifing Municipality to replace the inefficient incandescent bulbs. He revealed that PURA, in collaboration with NAWEC, will monitor the community’s consumption for the next 3 months and will produce a report on how to replicate the project on a national scale.

In a paper read on behalf of Ousman Jammeh, the secretary of state for Energy, Bah Saho from the Department of State for Energy,  reiterated The Gambia government’s commitment to the ideals of Vision 2020, which endeavours to give every Gambian access to 24-hour affordable electricity supply.

He informed the gathering that the residential electricity consumption in The Gambia accounts for 30% of the energy generated while, lighting accounts for the bulk of electric energy used in the average Gambian household.