China sets energy-saving lightbulb target for provincial areas

China has ordered provincial governments to replace 50 million traditional incandescent lamps with heavily-subsidized energy-efficient lights this year.

In a circular published on its website on Wednesday, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) set a three-million target for each of the following provincial areas: Hebei, Shanxi, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shandong, Henan and Guangdong. Beijing, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Fujian, Jiangxi, Guizhou and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region each has target of 2 million.
It is part of a campaign to promote the use of 150 million energy efficient light bulbs over the five years through 2010, launched by the Ministry of Finance and the NDRC in January.

The government would offer a 30-percent subsidy on wholesale purchases and 50 percent on retail sales.

Xinhua