DUSHANBE, March 3, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- Delivery of energy-saving light bulbs, also known as compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), has decreased considerably to Tajikistan – from 3.5 million pieces in 2009 to 533,700 in 2010, according to the Customs Service under the Government of Tajikistan.

“China now accounts for 90 percent of Tajikistan’s CFL imports,” said the source, “CFLs are also delivered to the country from Turkey, Afghanistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).”

According to him, the campaign on nationwide shift to the energy-saving light bulbs in the country fell mostly on 2009, and therefore, so many CFLs were delivered to the country in 2009.  Besides, two plants for assembling CFLs were launched in the northern Sughd province last year.

Jaloliddin Mahkamov, director of the Isfara-based joint-stock company (JSC) Charogh, told Asia-Plus today that Charogh now assembles up to 20,000 CFLs per month.  “We also plan to launch a CFL recycling system at the company,” he noted.

Tajikistan has not yet developed a special CFL recycling program and a special mechanism for collection of damaged CFls from the population.

We will recall that a special decree requiring nationwide shift to the energy-saving light bulbs was signed on April 24, 2009.  The government, local authorities, organizations and enterprises irrespective of forms of property were charged to provide switch to the energy-saving light bulbs by the end of 2009.

An energy-saving light, also known as a compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) or a compact fluorescent lamp, is a type of fluorescent lamp.  Experts say that compared to general service incandescent lamps giving the same amount of visible light, CFLs generally use less power, have a longer rated life, but a higher purchase price. The average rated life of a CFL is between 8 and 15 times that of incandescents.