Akosombo to operate on only two turbines

Authorities at the Volta River Authority (VRA) are planning to shut down two more turbines of the country’s biggest power-generating plant, the Akosombo Hydroelectric Dam.

The Dam has run on four of its five turbines over the past months, contributing 632 megawatts (MW) to the national grid.

Further drop in water levels over the past month has left authorities with no options than to shut two more turbines down.

Though the minimum operation level of the Dam is 240 feet, it has been operating below that since June.

The water level was 237.88ft on Thursday, July 23 when TV3 paid a visit to the dam site.

“We have delayed in bringing the generators down,” observed Ebo Amoah, an electrical engineer at Akosombo.

“This one you need authorization to do that. We have written to [government] and we are hoping that they will implement it.”

He said the situation could worsen in the coming days if the water levels go below 235ft.

“If you go below the 235, you will collapse the reservoir and for you to recover it, it will take a long time.”