Chinese energy company to make second visit to Ghana

Accra, Jan. 31, GNA - A team from a Chinese energy company, Shenzhen Energy Group Co., Ltd. (SEC) arrives in Ghana on Thursday for a two-week visit during which it would resume discussions on building a power plant in Ghana.

A statement issued from the Office of Togbe Afede XIV, Agbogbomefia of the Asogli Traditional Area, said during its first visit to Ghana in November last year, at the invitation of the Agbogbomefia, the SEC discussed the possibility of building a 200MW combined-cycle power plant in Ghana to be fully financed by them. "This second visit follows the favourable report presented to the SEC by their consultants, North China Power Engineering (Beijing) Co., Ltd who were in the country in December, 2006," the statement by Commodore F.K. Klutse, Chief of Staff of the Agbogbomefia said.

The statement said while in Ghana on this second visit, the SEC team plans, among others, to negotiate power and gas purchase agreements. "They also plan to have discussions with officials of relevant ministries, agencies and departments of state for the required approvals and licenses, to pave the way for the commencement of construction and installation work." It said The SEC's objective was to complete the project within 12 months after receiving all approvals and licenses. It said subject to the timing of these authorizations, their goal was to have 130MW nominal generating capacity in place by the end of the year, with the rest coming on stream early next year.