WASHINGTON – May 21, 2009. The World Bank’s Board of Directors today approved an Efficient Lighting Project for Urban Areas of the Republic of Benin.
Supported by a Global Environment Facility (GEF) grant totaling US$1.82 million (approximately CFAF 900 million), this project seeks to improve energy services in urban areas for customers that already have access to electricity in Benin by (i) installing compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) in the market in order to reduce peak demand and energy consumption; (ii) introducing a regulatory and labeling system for compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) and individual air conditioning units, with a view to providing consumers with efficient and high-quality products; and (iii) promoting energy efficiency through capacity building, information, and awareness building. The project focuses on lighting and includes an important activity, namely, the dissemination of 350,000 subsidized compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) to replace incandescent light bulbs currently in use.
The new approved project is part of the Increased Access to Modern Energy Project (DAEM) totaling US$70 million, which will be submitted shortly to the Board of Directors, and whose primary objective is to increase the feasibility and effectiveness of access to modern energy services in Benin.
GEF is a mechanism for providing new and additional grant funding to meet the incremental costs of measures to achieve global environmental benefits in six focal areas, namely climate change, biodiversity, international waters, ozone layer depletion, land degradation, and persistent organic pollutants.
The World Bank is one of GEF’s implementing agencies, and supports countries in preparing GEF co-financed projects and supervises their implementation. It plays the primary role in the development and management of investment projects. The World Bank draws upon its operational experience in eligible countries to promote investment opportunities and mobilize private sector, bilateral, multilateral, government, and non-government sector resources for interventions that are consistent with GEF objectives and national sustainable strategies.
