Government hopes to produce 4,000 power megawatts

Tema, Sept. 19 Sept. GNA- The Minister of Energy, Felix Owusu Agyepong on Friday reassured Ghanaian that government's decision to produce about 4,000 power megawatts in the near future is no fluke since all measures are being put in place to make it a reality. "Many companies are springing up in the country and also the government has it in mind to revamp VALCO and this is the more reason why this amount of power must be produce", he said.

Speaking to newsmen during a visit to some Independent Power Producers to access their work, he noted that currently about 2000 energy megawatts are produced and expressed government's satisfaction with the energy situation in the country as of now. Owura Sarfo, Chief Executive Officer of the Volta River Authority said the VRA was aware of the crucial role that energy played in the economy of the country and would ensure that VRA played its part effectively.

He pointed out that the water inflow at the Akosombo Dam was satisfactory and that the VRA had put an 80 power megawatts plant sponsored by gold mining companies in the country on stand by in case any thing should go wrong with energy production. Mr. Ebow Essandoh, Executive Chairman of Gecad Group, an engineering procurement and construction firm working for the VRA said it had built a 126 megawatts plant and that very soon another 126 megawatts plant would be constructed. "The waste energy from the two power plants would be generated to build another plant", he added.

He noted that in three years time the Kpone Thermal Plant would also be able to generate 750 power megawatts to support the energy generation in the country.

He noted that running the plants on diesel and oil was very expensive as compared to gas which the nation was waiting on Nigeria to produce through the West African Gas Pipeline initiative. Alston Power and Siemens Athol had all been contracted by the government to produce 220 and 50 megawatts of energy respectively.