By Charles Nwaoguji
As Nigeria joins other nations in the use of energy efficient appliances, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), has given February 2018 as deadline for stopping importation of fridges and air conditioners, among others, that are not energy efficient. The organisation also fixed 2019 for locally manufactured ones to comply.
This is to ensure that insufficient quantum of electricity generation currently at 4,000 megawatts (mw) is judiciously applied and subsequently shored up to the national sufficiency level of 36,000mw.
In a collaborative effort between European Union (EU), German Cooperation of SON, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, and Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, the partners pledged to work from all fronts to adjust imported electrical products and local substitutes to a sustainable level of efficiency.
The Director General, SON, Mr. Osita Aboloma, while speaking at the launch of the Nigeria Energy label in Lagos, said the concept would guide consumers’ choices in terms of energy conservation rating of appliances. For instance, identifying a less efficient brand of air conditioner is symbolised by one star while five stars indicate better efficient appliance.
He warned that with the launch, labels will be attached to all appliances with approved minimum energy performance, making it illegal to import any of the electrical products with less than a star.
He said: “We have designed a road map in conjunction with manufacturers for the implementation of the Minimum Energy Performance (MEPs) and label. Enforcement of the label is scheduled to commence after 18 months for locally manufactured and six months for imported products beginning from today. This is to allow old stocks to be exhausted while importers of completely built units are to fully comply with the standard in six months.”
The benefits of the MEPs are numerous, according to Aboloma, who listed reduction in domestic energy consumption by up to 30 per cent of total energy demand and improved quality of appliance as potential advantages. He said the implication of the drive towards efficiency was that air conditioners and refrigerators would be restricted and by extension halt the application of greenhouse gas as refrigerant in both air conditioning and refrigerating.