Ghana to generate revenue from energy export

Accra, July 23, GNA - Ghana is expected to generate revenue from energy export through an estimated 75-million-dollar power transmission project that would link her to Burkina Faso and other countries in West Africa.

The Ghana/Burkina Faso Project, which would construct a 225-kv transmission line from Bolgatanga sub-station to Zagtouli in Burkina Faso as part of the West Africa Power Pool Project (WAPP), is to ensure a robust and reliable power supply system.

The transmission capacity is expected to be raised to 100 megawatt by 2015.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency on Friday at the end of a Consultative meeting in Accra Mr Charles Darko, Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo), said when the project was fully implemented, Ghana's cost of generating energy would be competitive and would earn enough revenue to support domestic projects.

The meeting, which was co-organised by Volta River Authority and GRIDCo under the sponsorship of WAPP Secretariat, was to discuss with participants how to address challenges beleaguering successful implementation of the project.

Mr Darko said to ensure reliable interconnection systems, robust transmission upgrade projects would have to be undertaken.

"Large networks are more reliable, robust and stable. Medium term project to build capacity to export is underway and we believe it would help in cleaning up our system to increase revenue and to support local infrastructure," he said

Mr Diallo Amadou, General Secretary of WAPP, expressed the hope that the project would eliminate the shortfall in power demand in neighbouring Burkina Faso resulting in power exchanges between her and Ghana.

He expressed confidence that through the project, member countries in Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) could exchange goods and services to meet the needs of the citizenry.

"Burkina Faso is a land-locked country which is not endowed with enough energy resources. Ghana, on the other hand, has hydro-electrical power, gas and other available energy resources," he said.

WAPP was established in 2000 and is a cooperation of the national electricity companies in West Africa under the auspices of ECOWAS. Members of WAPP are working to establish a reliable power grid for the region and a common market for electricity.

It is expected to integrate the national power system operations into a unified regional electricity market - with the expectation that such mechanism would, over the medium to long-term, assure the citizens of ECOWAS Member States a stable and reliable electricity supply at affordable costs.