June 17 2009

Ethiopia: Ethiopia to hand out 4.5 mln energy-saving bulbs

Ethiopia said on Wednesday it will distribute 4.5 million free energy-saving light bulbs in response to a worsening power shortage that is crippling businesses and slashing export revenues.

Ethiopia started rationing power in March and major towns are now without electricity every second day.

India: Eye on sky to escape power cuts

Rain relief on Wednesday evening was greeted with a round of power cuts as CESC kept its fingers crossed about demand dipping with the Celsius slide.

There were phased power cuts in large parts of south, north and central Calcutta, as well as Howrah.

Nepal: Loadshedding hours to increase

The power outage time in the capital will be increased from Wednesaday as the power generation at the Kulekhani Hydro Power Project will be halted for maintenance work.

The repair work is taking place after 24 years.

The major portion of the electricity supplied to the Valley is generated from the Kulekhani. According to the project officials, the power generation will be halted for around two weeks.

Phillipines: Power deficit seen in Cebu by September

Power stakeholders in Cebu are bracing for what is likely a power deficit this September as several power plants are expected to temporarily shut down due to regular maintenance.

“By September, power supply in Cebu will be on a big shortage as many power plants will be closed for maintenance in preparation for a surge in demand (for power) this December,” Jesus Alcordo, president of power consortium Cebu Energy Development Corp. said.