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Government has committed an amount of GH�3 million for a three-year pilot rebate and exchange programme aimed at encouraging the purchase of new refrigerators. Under the project, consumers who turn in their old refrigerator appliances will be supported financially to pay part of the cost of a new and efficient refrigerator. Consumers who opt for higher efficiency refrigerator appliances will also receive further rebates depending on the level of efficiency of their appliances. The Chief Director of the Ministry of Energy, Professor Thomas Akabzaa, who read a speech on behalf of the sector Minister, Dr. Joe Oteng-Adjei, during the launch of the project noted that �the objective of the Refrigerating Appliance Market Transformation Project is to reduce the energy consumption of refrigerating appliances from the current average of 1,200 Kilowatt hour (kWh) to 600 kWh per appliance per annum.� He noted that the about 50,000 energy efficient refrigerators are expected to be sold under the programme over the next three years. This, he said, �could result in a massive savings of 216 mega watts hour (MWh) of electricity which is more than half of the electricity that will be produced by Bui dam when completed.� Explaining the procedure, Prof. Akabzaa noted that �when the old and less efficient refrigerators are sent to the participating retail shops they would be checked to confirm if they are functioning. If confirmed a coupon would be awarded for the purchase of a new energy efficient labeled refrigerator and the consumer will use the coupon to pay part of the cost of the new refrigerator.� He said that �a selected participating bank, Ecobank Ghana will also provide consumer loans to provide assistance to customers who can still not afford to top up to buy the brand new energy efficient refrigerators.� He emphasised that to ensure value for money only refrigerators that meet the Ghanaian standard as specified in the regulatory framework on minimum performance standards L.I 1958 as amended L.I 1970 would be allowed into the country. �Further to this, a Refrigerator Test facility would be installed by 2013 at the Ghana Standards Authority Laboratories to ensure compliance with the regulatory requirements,� he emphazised. Alfred Ofosu Ahenkorah, Executive Secretary of the Energy Commission, the promoters of the project, noted that the rebate scheme is also intended to reinforce the ban on the importation of used refrigerators, which takes effect from January 1, 2013. He said the ban on old refrigerators would save the nation about $33 million annually. Mr. Ahenkorah cautioned importers to desist from importing refrigerators which do not meet the required standard as they would not be allowed to clear them from the ports. Kamil Kamaluddeen, the Unite Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Country Director, also pledged his organization�s support towards the project.