Solar street lights, LED street name signs for Bulawayo

The Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has agreed to partner with a South African company to instal solar powered street lights and LED street name signs in the central business district, a move set to reduce the local authority's reliance on electricity.

According to the latest council report the Johannesburg based company Tarinaka proposed to council to execute the project that uses solar energy to light up the city streets at major intersections and the local authority has agreed in principle.

"The city will look modern and beautiful especially at night as the streets will be lit and the street name signs clearly visible," reads part of the report.

The project, ID Lights, would utilise light units that would be placed at major intersections and are set to assist the citizens in identifying street names at night.

"Each ID Lite carries an advertisement, from which revenue is generated to assist in the capital expenditure of the project. Council will benefit from this project as it will not inject capital.

"Instead council will be able to generate funds which will be split between council and the project initiators, who will be responsible for financing the project and then roll it out in conjunction with the City of Bulawayo," reads the report.

The solar powered ID lights are automatically illuminates when the sun sets and have up to seven hours of illumination, they also have fibre-glass construction of the head, steel construction of the pole and are said to be aesthetically pleasing.

Some of the listed benefits of this project that is expected to be rolled out in the near future include increased safety as these lights will augment the present street lights, the attached dustbins that  will also assist in the cleanliness awareness campaigns and help reduce litter on the pavements.

The project is also said to be environmentally friendly as it uses solar energy which does not emit gaseous substances.

"The project will comply with SADC standards which we are meant to implement and the project will the project will add more light to Bulawayo and reduce dark spots where muggers will be prowling," reads the report.

BCC has since resolved to sign a Memorandum of Agreement with Tarinaka on the implementation of the agreed terms of the partnership, duration, renewal and handover.