Return old refrigerator for cash

Energy Commission has unveiled an ozone friendly project which will provide new refrigerators to consumers who will return their old refrigerating appliances.

Under a project known as 'The Efficient Refrigerator Rebate Scheme In Ghana', consumers who return their old refrigerating appliances will be supported financially to pay part of the cost of a new efficient one.

To this end, the commission has engaged the services of some dealers in electrical appliances, including Somovision and Beko to promote the use of ozone friendly refrigerators, ahead of the January 2013 ban.

While a selected participating bank, Ecobank Ghana Limited will provide assistance to customers who can not afford to top up to buy the brand new energy efficient refrigerators.

The project, being the first of its kind in Africa, was launched in Accra by the Chief Director of the Ministry of Energy, Professor Thomas Akabzaa, on behalf of the sector minister, Dr. Joe Oteng-Adjei.

He disclosed that about 50,000 energy efficient refrigerators were expected to be sold under the project over the next three years of the implementation of the project.

This, Dr Joe Oteng-Adjei said could result in a massive savings of 216MWh of electricity which is more than half of the electricity that will be produced by the Bui Dam when completed.

He further revealed that the government was committing GH¢1 million per year for the next three years of the project to stimulate the purchase of new refrigerators at designated shops throughout the country.

Under the rebate and turn-in scheme, he noted that the old and less efficient refrigerators could be sent to participating retails, adding that the 'refrigerators would be checked at the retail shop to confirm if it is functioning'.

These old refrigerators will be disposed off by participating waste management firm(s) which is unknown.

In his welcome address, the Executive Secretary of the Energy Commission, Dr. Alfred Ofosu Ahenkrah added the objective of the project was to reduce the energy consumption of refrigerating appliances from the current average of 1,200Kwh to 600Kwh per appliance per annum.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Country Director, Dr. Kamil Kamaluddeen whose organization is partnering Ghana to implement the project stated that 'the rebate scheme we are launching today constitutes a breakthrough energy initiative in Africa'.

He congratulated the government for spearheading the project with the commitment of the GHC 1 million for the three-year period of the project, stressing that the main ingredient to make this recipe successful is the creation and sustainment of partnerships.