Govt to procure 20 crore LED bulbs in FY'17
After distributing 10 crore LED bulbs so far under UJALA scheme, state-run EESL has planned to procure 20 crore such lights through auctions this fiscal, which can reduce the procurement price to Rs 44 per unit. Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL) has already tendered for 14 crore LED bulbs under Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All (UJALA), out of which almost 10 crore are distributed to consumers through power distribution and other channels like online marketplace Snapdeal. "We will procure 20 crore LED bulbs through auctions this fiscal. We have not floated any tender so far," EESL Managing Director Saurabh Kumar told PTI. "We have procured 14 crore bulbs through auctions so far, out of which we have already distributed almost 10 crore LED lights. As the distribution progresses we will float new tenders." The LED bulb scheme is being implemented by EESL. The procurement cost of LED bulbs has fallen recently to Rs 54.90 per unit from Rs 64.41, which enabled government to further reduce the retail price to as low as Rs 75 per piece. According to PTI, “The price of these lights is as high as Rs 95 in some part of the country due to state levies. Recently, some states like Uttar Pradesh have taken initiative to reduce these levies to bring down the price of LEDs.” Kumar is of the view that with procurement of 20 crore LED bulbs, the price can come down to Rs 44 per unit, as envisaged by the government. Under the scheme, the target is to replace all the 77 crore incandescent bulbs sold in India by LEDs. This will result in reduction of 20,000 MW load, energy savings of 100 billion KWh and Green House Gas (GHG) emissions savings of 80 million tonnes every year. The annual saving in electricity bills of consumers will be Rs 40,000 crore, considering average tariff of Rs 4 per unit. With the distribution of 10 crore LED bulbs, India is saving Rs 14.21 crore per day, avoiding daily peak load of 2,600 MW and reducing 28,778 tonnes of carbon dioxide per day. A joint venture of NTPC, Power Finance Corp, Rural Electrification Corp and POWERGRID, the EESL was set up under Power Ministry to facilitate implementation of energy efficiency projects.
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