Ukrainians to get millions of LED light bulbs to ease energy shortfall
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A woman sells bread using LED lighting during a blackout after a Russian missile attack in the southern city of Mykolayiv in December.
PHOTO: AFP
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KYIV – Ukrainians were urged on Monday to swop old light bulbs for free energy-efficient LED bulbs under a scheme intended to ease an energy shortfall caused by Russian attacks.
Launching a programme backed by the European Union and aimed at replacing 50 million light bulbs, Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said all adults would be able to exchange five incandescent light bulbs for five LED bulbs at post offices.
The goal in the next few months is to reduce by a quarter the energy deficit caused by Russian missile and drone strikes
“Ukraine is fighting on military, economic and energy fronts,” Ms Svyrydenko told a news briefing. “It is an important step to reduce pressure on Ukraine’s energy system.”
One LED bulb uses eight times less electricity than the older bulbs, she said.
Energy savings are vital
Government officials have said about 40 per cent of the energy system has been damaged, and some Ukrainian power plants are in territories that have been occupied by Russian forces.
National grid operator Ukrenergo said on Monday the energy deficit was “significant”, with consumption growing at the start of the working week and temperatures falling below zero. It enforced scheduled electricity shutdowns across the country.
Mr Matti Maasikas, the EU ambassador to Ukraine, said the 27-nation bloc would provide up to 30 million LED light bulbs and France would provide another 5 million bulbs.
He said the EU was also providing generators and other equipment. REUTERS
