Escom rolls out LED bulbs distribution

The Electricity Supply Corperation of Malawi (Escom) says the introduction of light emitting diode (LED) bulbs will save more than 25 megawatts (MW) on consumption, which is equivalent to the generation capacity of Nkula A power plant.

Escom Southern Region manager David Mbewe said this when he briefed journalists in Blantyre yesterday during the launch of LED bulbs in Ndirande Township in Blantyre.

He said this was part of the short-term mitigation measures for the prolonged load shedding that has resulted in reduced power generation capacity following the reduced water levels in the Shire River.

The project, which will be conducted in two phases, will start with a free exchange of incandescent bulbs (non-energy saving bulbs) with 450 000 LED bulbs in high impact areas such as Ndirande and Chirimba townships in Blantyre while in the second phase, 750 000 LED bulbs will be sold on retail in low feeder areas.

“We had to survey areas which were consuming more power and we found out that the high density areas, which also have a lot of low income earners, use a lot of incandescent bulbs” Mbewe said.

He further said consumers will save on their electricity bills as the new bulbs consume less power.

According to Escom, the nine-watt LED bulb consumes power equivalent to K1 000 a year.

The procurement of the 1.2 million LED bulbs cost about K5 billion, which Escom says is much lower than it would costs to install a new power plant. n