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Law to ban importation of used
refrigerators in the offing
Accra, March 21, GNA - Ghana's energy consumption on
refrigerators/deep freezers is twice the world average, a
survey by the Energy Commission has indicated.
As a result, government would by the end of this year
introduce an LI to ban the importation of all used
refrigerators/deep freezers into the country.
Mr A. K. Ofosu Ahenkorah, Acting Executive Secretary of the
Energy commission who disclosed this in Accra at a day's
workshop on the Energy Efficiency Standards and Labels Act
(LI 1815, 2005), said the move had become necessary because
Ghana was becoming more dependent on imported energy and a
dumping ground for inferior electrical appliances.
The LI 1815, he said, became mandatory this year and every
effort was being made to effectively implement it.
For now, the LI only covers Non-ducted Room Air
Conditioners, which is said to be the highest
energy-consuming appliance in the home or office and the
Self Ballasted Fluorescent Lamps otherwise known as Compact
Fluorescent Lamps (CFL) or Energy Saving Lamp/Bulb.
It was intended to introduce and enforce minimum energy
efficiency standards, which all appliances imported into
Ghana or manufactured in Ghana for use in Ghana would have
to meet.
Mr Ahenkorah said the Commission was, in collaboration with
the Ghana Standard Board (GSB) and Customs Excise and
Preventive Service (CEPS), to fully implement the law to
save the country from being used as a dumping ground.
He said a survey conducted in 2001 showed that when the Room
Air Conditioning standards were put in place, Ghanaian
consumers would save an average of 64 million dollars
annually in energy bills.
"This will also reduce carbon oxide emission by about 2.8
million tons over 30 years," and added that in 2003,
compliance with the standard would have freed 13 megawatts
of generating capacity and save the equivalent of 150MW
generating plant by 2013.
"By 2020, this standard alone will be saving about 950Gig
Watts per hour in a year, freeing up nearly 250MW of
generating capacity at net negative cost to the economy.
Mr Ahenkorah said some of the findings of the surveys showed
that the purchase price of an appliance increases with its
cooling capacity but the most expensive appliance did not
necessarily make it the most efficient.
GNA
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