DOE to distribute fluorescent lamps in Metro Manila

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Energy (DOE) will start the distribution of compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) within the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) franchise area.

The DOE added it will look for a logistics service provider (LSP) for the Philippine Energy Efficiency Project (PEEP) which aims to `distribute 4.45 million CFLs within the Meralco franchise area in Metro Manila, Calabarzon and Bulacan.

The LSP will take charge of all the information paraphernalia necessary for the orderly conduct of CFL distribution, the DOE pointed out.

Last month, Chinese firm CE Lighting Ltd. bagged the P277.4-million contract for the supply of 15 million compact fluorescent bulbs.

CE Lighting will supply the CFLs that would replace the incandescent lamps for Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

There were seven bidders that submitted bids. Cebu Oversea Hardware Co. Inc. (P505 million), Philips Electronics and Lighting Inc. (P287.676 million), China Automation and Control System Corp. and Hangzou Lin’an Sanlian Lighting (P400.96 million), GE Lighting Philippines (P288 million) and Siemens Inc (P317.439 million).

Wexford International Sales Inc. and New CHP Industrial Corp., on the other hand, failed to comply with certain bidding requirements.

The DOE said the delivery of the five million CFLs will be done in three tranches from August to October.

“Also to include the delivery the cities of Cebu, Davao and Cagayan de Oro within August 2009. Further, to maintain a warehouse in Metro Manila for the storing of the 10 percent allowance on replacement of damaged CFLs and retrieval of incandescent bulbs from the recipient,” the DOE said.

The replacement to CFLs aims to provide direct economic benefits to the country by reducing energy demand and displacing imported fuel.

“Lighting accounts for more than 50 percent of the evening peak load in the rural Philippines. The use of proven technology in efficient lighting can reduce this demand by 40 to 80 percent,” Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes said.

The DOE said the replacement of incadescent bulbs with CFLs is expected to reap the following benefits: reduce peak demand by 450 megawatts, reduce oil imports by $120 million each year, generate clean development mechanism revenues of about $10 million for 2010-2012 and create an energy efficient market.

On top of the CFL replacements, the PEEP project also includes: government retrofit, public lighting retrofit, expansion of energy efficiency labeling, lamp waste facility, super ESCO (energy service company), green building initiatives and communication, and social mobilization.

The PEEP project is partly funded by the Asian Development Bank through a $31.1 million loan.