The Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS) has today received Portable Lighting Testing Equipment through the Ministry of Energy, with the support of the Energy Efficient Lighting and Appliances (EELA) project. The equipment which is valued at Six thousand seven hundred and fifteen Euros (Equivalent to One hundred and three thousand nine hundred and seventy-nine Kwacha – K103, 979.00) is meant to test energy-efficient lighting appliances and will benefit the country in the provision of quality assurance tests of the lighting products while helping to reduce the risk of substandard lighting products on the market.

The testing equipment was handed over today during a ceremony held at the Ministry of Energy and received by the Ministry of Commerce Trade and Industry who officially handed the equipment to ZABS.

Speaking during the handover, the Director of Energy in the Ministry of Energy Mr. Arnold Simwaba said the Ministry had appointed ZABS as the custodian of the Portable Lighting Testing Equipment in light of its mandate in standards development and laboratory testing in the country. Mr. Simwaba said ZABS will be responsible for reporting periodically to the Ministry of Energy and the EELA project on the quality and efficiency status of lighting products in the market and on compliance levels, thereby supporting the Ministry in policy decisions.

At the same event, Ministry of Commerce Trade and Industry Permanent Secretary John Mulongoti who was represented by Director Domestic Trade Margaret Chikuba expressed optimism that the piece of equipment will strengthen the capacity of ZABS in driving a market transformation towards efficient and high-quality lighting appliances. The Permanent Secretary implored ZABS to live up to the challenge of supporting the Ministry of Energy as this laboratory will act as a regional reference laboratory to be accessed by SADC member states.

Receiving the equipment, Acting ZABS Executive Director Belinda Kancheya appreciated the cooperating partners for facilitating access to the equipment and for entrusting the Bureau with this huge responsibility of being a custodian. Mrs. Kancheya affirmed ZABS commitment to meeting the expectations of the Ministry of Energy and the cooperating partners in ensuring safe and good quality Energy Efficient Lighting and Appliances in the country and the region.

The portable lighting testing equipment has been facilitated by the Ministry of Energy, supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), the SADC Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (SACREEE), and the East African Centre of Excellence for Renewable Energy and Efficiency (EACREEE).