Solar lamp designed by Indians wins award for helping developing countries

A company, run by Indian entrepreneurs, has won a prestigious environmental award for designing a solar lamp that aims to replace kerosene-burning lights in developing countries.

D Light Design says its lanterns, which sell for around 10 dollars, contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions.

One of the runners-up for the Ashden Award for Sustainable Energy was the Rural Energy Foundation (REF) for promoting solar energy in Africa.

More than 70% of sub-Saharan Africa has no access to electricity.

D Light takes has won the 40,000 pound Gold Award, for "its passion and dedication to the cause of ridding the developing world of the health and pollution problems associated with the use of kerosene lighting", said the judges.

The company said that indoor air pollution by Kerosene fumes kills 1.5m people per year.

"This will do to kerosene what mobile phones did to letters," the BBC quoted one of the entrepreneurs as saying.

"The judges were particularly impressed with their highly effective marketing strategy which has put solar lighting within reach of over a million people in 32 countries with significant potential for further expansion," the Ashden Awards said in a statement.