LED Lighting Solutions Limited, a newly registered company in The Gambia, has introduced a new solar lighting system championing the Light Emitting Diodes technology in the sub-region.

These new products are solid-state semi-conductor devices that convert electrical energy directly into light. The high power street light is a revolutionary new product that adapts the energy efficiency of LEDs to the broad application of walkway and highway illumination. The new product was unveiled on Thursday by Malcom Robertson, managing director of LED Solution Company during a press briefing held at the Kairaba Beach Hotel in Kololi.  According to him, his products have long life span of 15 to 25 years, and very low maintenance cost since there will be no need to change the bulbs for a minimum of 10 years.

The bulb converts electricity directly to light and thus produces 98% clean and white lighting. He said that the system produces large-scale energy, easily adaptable to existing street light poles and electrical systems. "It is a high power streetlight and can be implemented on any scale and solar power systems are also available, particularly for areas where there is ample sunlight to harness, store, and use the energy," he said. Robertson told journalists that the high power streetlight types save energy consumption by 70% and that the maintenance cost is also very low since the lamps/bulbs will not be changed for a minimum of 10 years.  Besides these, he went on, his lights are environmental friendly and do not generate any heat during lighting.
 
He said the LED lights do not contain mercury, while the fluorescent in the so-called energy saving bulbs used in The Gambia contain mercury, and contaminate the ground water when disposed of wrongly. According to him, the investment in this system could be recovered within a short period of time. "The LED lamps or bulbs are also available for domestic and commercial use," he said. Tombong Saidy, Africa sales and marketing officer, chaired the occasion.