ADDIS ABABA–The Light Bulb Verification Center in Quality Village has played a significant role in preventing fraud and ensuring public safety, according to institutions involved.
The Ethiopian Metrology Institute (EMI)Director General MulugetaDerbew (PhD) told local media that the center, which verifies the quality of light bulbs, has successfully protected the public from fraudulent practices.
He explained that laboratories assessing the quality of light bulbs rely on specialized equipment. However, if the accuracy of this equipment is not verified, the quality assurance certificates issued by these laboratories would not be recognized. To address this, a state-of-the-art facility has been established to ensure the accuracy of the equipment used in these verification processes.
On her part, the Ethiopian Accreditation InstituteDirector General Meseret Bekele (PhD) highlighted that standards have been set to assess the quality of light, power consumption, and accuracy of imported bulbs to safeguard the public. Using these standards, institutions in Quality Village now ensure the reliability of the products.
A photometer has also been installed to verify the accuracy of the equipment used for bulb quality checks. Meseret noted that the center has eliminated the need for foreign exchange previously spent on measuring the quality of bulbs abroad.
She further explained that substandard light bulbs result in high temperatures, insufficient lighting, and shorter lifespans. The verification center not only ensures the quality of bulbs but also promotes efficient resource utilization.
“If the government generates excess electricity to produce the same amount of light for households due to low-quality bulbs, valuable electricity that could have been used for other purposes is wasted,” she said.
Mulugeta added that the center addresses electricity supply issues in the country and reduces the unnecessary power consumption caused by substandard bulbs and power plants.
BY ESSEYE MENGISTE
The Ethiopian Herald December 22/2024
