China plans to subsidize the price to the public of 150 million compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) this year to save energy, the country's top economic planner said on Tuesday.

At least 30 percent of the CFL bulbs would be distributed in rural communities, said a statement of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).

A total of 210 million subsidized CFLs were sold to consumers between 2008 and 2009.

This had resulted in an estimated savings of 8.8 billion kilowatt hours of electricity each year, or a reduction of 8.8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide and 88,000 tonnes of sulfur dioxide each year, said the statement.

The CFL promotion program, initiated in 2008, represents China's effort to increase the use of energy-efficient light bulbs as part of the government's nationwide campaign for energy conservation and emission reductions.

(Xinhua News Agency June 30, 2010)