Importation of used refrigerators to be banned

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.