China Donates 1000 Air Conditioners and 25,000 LED Light Bulbs to Barbados

Project narrative

On September 14, 2015, during the Hand-Over Ceremony for the Provision of Goods for Addressing Climate Change, China granted 1000 inverter air conditioners and 25000 LED tubes to the Barbadian Government as a means to support Small Island Countries to address Climate Change through the South-South Cooperation Fund of China. This follows a Memorandum of Understanding for the equipment signed on September 12, 2014. The equipment was to be distributed to the government and public institutions in order to replace the existing high energy consumption tubes and air conditioners. This donation would make contribution to the Energy Efficient retrofitting program to transition to utilizing energy environmentally friendly equipment across the Barbadian Government. Over 45 government institutions received equipment, including the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, the Ministry of Transport and Works, the Central Purchasing Department, the Barbados Defence Force, a geriatric hospital, seven polyclinics, nine police stations, 14 post offices, three fire stations and 10 schools, including Barbados Community College (BCC). The Barbadian Energy Minister estimated the equipment would save the government BDS$1.4 million annually and BDS$21 million over 15 years. Further, the Chinese government provided training to technicians using the equipment at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), Barbados Defence Force (BDF), the Government Electrical Engineering Department (GEED), and the Barbados Vocational Training Board.