Media Tours VRA Facilities

The Volta River Authority, as part of its efforts to engage its stakeholders to have a better understanding of its operations and the current power situation in the country, organized a media tour of its power generation facilities at Tema, Akuse and Akosombo to equip the general public with first-hand information on the state of power generation in the country. The tour was also to improve media reportage on power related issues and operational activities, machinery and new power projects being undertaken by the VRA.

Mr. K.B Amoako, Director of Hydro Generation, took the media team through a presentation on power generation in the country, which included components of power system, power sector structure, principle of hydropower generation among others, when they made a stop-over at Akosombo.

He was concerned about the disparity in the electricity supply which has currently become an important issue in public circles and has necessitated government's determination to construct more power generation plants in some parts of the country. He noted that the rapid annual electricity demand growth of over 10 per cent had resulted in demand outstripping supply.

He said VRA continues to face a daunting task of purchasing significant quantities of expensive crude oil to generate power, due to the absence of gas supply from the West African Gas Pipeline which got damaged accidentally last year.

He stated that “electricity infrastructure projects are capital intensive which normally required huge capital outlay which takes about four years to complete under ideal circumstances”. Even so, Head of Corporate Communications, Samuel Kwesi Fletcher, was hopeful the current energy crises will be over by the first week of April, by which time the Asogli power plant would be expected to return to full operation, with gas from Nigeria to fuel it.

He said there was the possibility of having a 130 Megawatts (MW) power supply from a unit at the Bui Power Plant, which will, together with the 120 MW power from the Asogli plant, secure about 250 MW reserve to help mitigate the periodic power problem.

In other news (February, 2013)

• Press Release: Update on the current energy crisis.
• Dodi Princess set to resume operations in september.
• Reverend Cockett visits alma mater.
• VRA deploys Health Information Management System (HIMS).
• Akosombo International School Senior High School Entrance Examination into Form One.

 

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