DHAKA: The Danish government would give Tk 56 crore per annum to Bangladesh for distributing compact florescent lamp (CFL) bulbs meant for cutting down both power consumption and carbon emissions.

“The money is being provided for reducing carbon emissions under carbon-trade agreement,” Dr Toufiq-e-Elahi, Adviser to the Prime Minister on energy sector, said at a press conference Wednesday.

He informed that a 3-year agreement has already been signed between the two governments with the mediation of the World Bank.

The adviser said the project of CFL bulb distribution would start on June 19.

“More than 55 lakh CFL bulbs would be distributed free of cost in 27 districts across the country in the first phase to save power,” he added.

Earlier, Dhaka Power Distribution Company Ltd distributed 23.5 thousand CFL bulbs in the city’s Rajarbag area. According to BUET specialists this saved 75 megawatts of electricity.

Consumers need to bring copy of last electric bill and the normal bulb to get a new CFL bulb in a swap, said the official. One person will get four bulbs.

The districts getting CFL bulbs are Khulna, Kushtia, Jessore, Jhenidah, Chuadanga, Faridpur, Madaripur, Rajbari, Gopalganj, Bagerhat, Dhaka, Gazipur, Tangail, Chapainawabganj, Sylhet, Rangpur, Chittagong, Comilla, Gaibandha, Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Mymensingh, Kishoreganj, Netrakona, Rajshahi and Natore.

Enamul Haque, state minister for power and energy, secretary Abul Kalam Azad and PDB Chairman SM Alamgir were among others also present at the press briefing.

BST 1834 HRS, June 16, 2010
HA/MMK/ARF/MMA/MUA