The government has secured Sh1 billion from the French Development Agency to procure and distribute an estimated three million energy saving bulbs this year.Kenya Power Acting Chief Manager for Commercial Services, Joshua Mutua, says the bulbs, known as Compact Fluorescent Lamps will replace inefficient existing incandescent bulbs in low income households across the country and assist in reducing power consumption during peak periods.
He said Kenya Power is in the process of seeking for a technical consultant to assist in executing the project after which the tendering process will begin in June this year.
Mutua was speaking on Monday in Embakasi, Nairobi, during a disposal of the 1.25 million bulbs which were replaced by the company in 2010.
He said the government gave authority to dispose the bulbs after an audit exercise by the Ministry of Energy two years ago.
“However, the process delayed because there was no licensed company to handle waste from the incandescent bulbs at that time. Lead (contained in incandescent bulbs) is classified as hazardous material and therefore requires special disposal operations and facilities,” he said.
The disposal process is being undertaken by Sintmond Group Limited, a contractor licensed by National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA), at a cost of Sh27 million.
