An August date has been given for the completion of the joint Jamaican-Cuban project to distribute four million energy-saving light bulbs to households islandwide.

The Ministry of Industry, Technology, Energy and Commerce announced yesterday that more than one million of the bulbs donated by Cuba, also known as compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), have been distributed with the Cuban government guaranteeing to supply every Jamaican household.

Big savings

Consumers using the CFLs are expected to save $748 million per year.

The CFLs are projected to reduce peak demand for electricity by 80 megawatts, which would save the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) $5.4 billion in lowering the amount needed to be spent on increasing its installed capacity.

"This is a significant part of the country's attempt to reduce the national light bill," said Energy Minister Phillip Paulwell during a press conference held at the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica building in New Kingston yesterday. Households consume 45 per cent of the electricity generated by the JPS.

The joint teams of Cuban social workers and Jamaican volunteers that distribute the CFLs exchange them with householders for old incandescent bulbs which are destroyed. One hundred Cubans are expected to arrive in Jamaica soon to continue the work.

Cuban President Fidel Castro decided to donate the bulbs following an 'enthusiastic' five-hour presentation on energy saving given to Mr. Paulwell when he visited Cuba in 2005.

Cuba previously freely distributed the CFLs domestically and designated 2006 'The Year of the Cuban Energy Revolution'.

- R.S.