DUSHANBE, September 30, 2009, Asia-Plus — The Government of Tajikistan has announced the introduction of the prohibition on importing incandescent lamps beginning on October 1 this year. The restriction comes as a result of the government’s decision to make shift to energy-saving light bulbs.
An appropriate resolution on this subject was adopted at an August 28 meeting of the government. The resolution was reportedly adopted for the purpose of ensuring efficient and rational use of electrical power in the country.
“The nationwide shift to the energy-saving light bulbs is undoubtedly necessary and opportune step, however, I think that import ban on incandescents that deprives people of the right of choice is not quite right,” the leader of the Communist Party (CPT) and deputy of the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) Shodi Shabdolov said in an interview with Asia-Plus, commenting on government’s resolution prohibiting import of incandescent bulbs.
“Moreover, energy-saving light bulbs currently realized in Tajikistan have low light flux,” said Shabdolov, “Such bulbs may be used only in entrance halls, bedrooms or bathrooms but not in offices or classrooms.”
The head of the Consumers’ Union of Tajikistan Bahodur Habibov noted that president’s decree on additional energy saving measures just recommends citizens to make shift to the energy-saving light bulbs but not obligates them to do that.
He noted that he supported president’s initiative on shift to the energy-saving light bulbs, “but events to make the population well aware of these bulbs are held at a very low level.” “Besides, the problems of utilization of such bulbs has not yet been solved,” Habibov said.
In the meantime, Deputy Economic Development and Trade Minister, Amonullo Ashour, considers that the nationwide shift to the energy-saving light bulbs will allow the country to save almost 3 billion kilowatt-hour of electricity per day. “However, nobody has the right to make citizens buy these bulbs,” he said.
We will recall that President Emomali Rahmon on April 24, 2009 signed a decree requiring nationwide shift to the energy-saving light bulbs beginning on May 1, 2009. The government, local authorities, organizations and enterprises irrespective of forms of property are to provide switch to the energy-saving light bulbs by the end of this year. Besides, the ministries of finance, economic development and trade, and energy and industries, as well as Barqi Tojik power holding are charged to provide 241,000 families in the country with energy-saving light bulbs by October 1, 2009.
The decree also obligates relevant ministries and organizations, including ministries of finance, economic development and trade, energy and industries, as well as the customs service, to prepare specific proposals on stage-by-stage restraints on import of conventional (incandescent) lamps into the country.
An energy-saving light, also known as a compact fluorescent lamp (CFL), is a type of fluorescent lamp. Experts say that compared to general service incandescent lamps giving the same amount of visible light, CFLs generally use less power, have a longer rated life, but a higher purchase price. The average rated life of a CFL is between 8 and 15 times that of incandescents.
