News

Friday, March 11, 2016

Government needs $1billion to stop power outages
By Masahudu Ankiilu Kunateh, Ghanadot

Accra, Dec 16, Ghanadot - In its quest to curb the power outages in the country, government has given strong indications that it would require about US1.0Billion in the medium term to ensure a reliable distribution of electricity.

Deputy Minister of Energy who is also the Member of Parliament for Ellembelle constituency in the Western Region, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, announced in Parliament yesterday that “it is estimated that about US$1.0Billion would be required for capital investments in the power distribution system in the medium term to ensure a reliable distribution network in the country.”

Mr Armah-Kofi Buah, who was presenting a statement on the floor of Parliament on the causes of the frequent power outages and the measures being put in place to tackle them said, “One other measure to minimize power outages is the introduction of the supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system which is used for the automation of the high and medium voltage networks, is mainly deployed in Accra.”

He further disclosed that “whilst these works are expected to bring significant improvements in the distribution network, thereby reducing the incidence of power outages, it is quite clear that there is the need for additional investment to match the pace and demand growth.”

The NDC MP admitted that the transaction network which was being operated by Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo), the company that supplies electricity to the country “has major challenges.”
He expatiated that the “southern troop” transmission network was commissioned in 1965 as part of the Volta River Development Project for the construction of the Akosombo dam and that, the transmission system is over-aged, overloaded and overstated.

The Deputy Minister therefore attributed the power outages to inadequate generation reserve management, excessive transmission network constraints and poor voltage support, especially during the peak demand period – before 6pm and 10pm each day.

In the short term however, the Ellembelle MP said that government would construct a fourth transmission line to the Achimota sub-station, complete the Mallam sub-station expansion project and also complete on-going system studies with the objective of improving upon system stability and minimize restoration time, amongst others.

For long term, he revealed that GRIDCo had drawn up a five-year capital investment programme to cater for the construction of transmission line and sub-stations, installation of transmission and other sub-station equipment and provision of tool for maintenance and operations with the total cost estimated at US$600 million.

Ghanadot