USAID’s Economic Resilience Activity (ERA) has successfully installed 1,909 LED lamps, along with necessary equipment such as switches, cables, and brackets, at 25 road and rail border crossing points (BCPs) across Volyn, Lviv, Zakarpattia, Chernivtsi, Vinnytsia, and Odesa Oblasts. Ukrainian manufacturers VATRA and Beta Light supplied the LED lamps.
The newly installed LED lamps are highly energy-efficient, using 80% less power than the incandescent lamps they replaced. With 10 hours of darkness each day, the LED technology saves up to 300,000 kWh per month. These lamps also consume up to 50% less energy compared to the halogen and fluorescent lamps replaced. These improvements are vital for ensuring smooth operations at the BCPs, facilitating the safe and efficient movement of goods and travelers.
In the long term, these upgrades will offer significant benefits, such as reduced maintenance costs and lower energy consumption. Overall, the newly installed LED lamps consume just 200 kWh compared to 1,000 kWh for incandescent bulbs, providing stronger light efficiency and greater durability for border infrastructure.
Between 2023 and 2026, USAID, through ERA, is dedicating $115 million to support the Government of Ukraine. This support includes the Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine (Ministry for Restoration), the State Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine (Agency for Restoration), the State Customs Service, and Ukrainian Railways (UZ) to upgrade 42 of Ukraine’s border crossing points (BCPs).