VRA, TR Spain Sign T4 Thermal Power Agreement to Generate 186 MW Power

The Volta River Authority (VRA) has signed an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) agreement with Técnicas Reunidas (TR) of Spain for the construction and generation of a combined cycle power plant.

The project which is expected to be completed within 30 months is estimated to cost $239 million. Under the agreement, the Spanish company is expected to construct the power plant under the Takoradi 4 Thermal Power Project to generate 186 megawatts of power to add to the national grid.

According to Mr. Isaac Bedu, the Manager in-charge of, Project Management of VRA, the project would be constructed in two phases and added that the first phase would provide 126MW of electricity and is expected to be completed in 20 months. He said the second phase of a combined cycle would be completed in 10 months to add another 60MW to the national grid.

The Minister of Power, Dr. Kwabena Donkor, speaking at the signing ceremony, said demand in the power sector was growing by 12 per cent per annum, which provides a challenge to the power industry.

He said, attracting the needed investment to improve upon the power sector was laudable and challenged the VRA to be more efficiency driven, aggressive and a company that every Ghanaian will be proud of.
"We just don't want to be a generator of power but we want to be the most efficient generator in the sub region," he stressed.

He stated that: "VRA the flagship generating company has through thick and thin provided the requisite services for Ghana. We want the excellence achieved in hydro to be translated into thermal generation so that Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah's vision of Ghana being capable of managing its own affairs will be actualized in the power sector."

He invited potential investors to invest in the power sector especially local investors to switch from the traditional buying and selling to productive investment in the power sector.

Ing. Kirk Koffi, Chief Executive of VRA in a brief remark said management of VRA would ensure the project would be executed as planned to contribute to the solution of the power deficit. He said the VRA is prepared to add on more generation or enter into Joint-Venture Partnership agreements to help add-on more generation.

The Executive Director of TR, Spain, Mr. Cesar Suarez Leoz, in his remarks, assured the ministry of the company's commitment to support the power sector and bring its expertise to bear on the sector in Ghana.
He said his outfit was proud to work on the project and thanked the VRA for the opportunity and said they will put on the table their best experience on the project.

Also in attendance at the signing ceremony was Ms. Maria Alonso, Spanish Ambassador to Ghana; Ing. Richard Badger, Deputy Chief Executive, Engineering and Operations (VRA); Ms. Alexandra Tottoe, Deputy Chief Executive, Finance (VRA); and some Board Members of VRA.

TR, Spain is an international general contractor, engaging in the engineering, design and construction of various types of industrial facilities for a broad spectrum of customers throughout the world, including many of the principal national oil companies as well as several multinational companies.

TR is an outgrowth of the former Spanish subsidiary of the Lummus Company, Lummus Española, S.A., founded in 1960. In 1972, a Spanish group of investors acquired 100 % of the shares of Lummus Española and renamed the company to Técnicas Reunidas. Since 1960 the TR group of companies has designed and built more than 1000 industrial plants worldwide.

 

 

Ing. Kirk Koffi, Chief Executive (VRA) exchanging contract documents with Mr. Cesar Suarez Leoz , the Executive Director of TR, Spain.

In other news (April, 2015)

• VRA donates learning materials to its impacted communities.
• VRA allays fears of riverine communities in the Lower Volta Basin to control growth of water hyacinth.
• VRA explores opportunities in coal energy generation.
• VRA celebrates 54 years of powering Ghana and West Africa.
• VRA launches Knowledge Management Portal.
  
  

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