Accra, June 27, GNA - An additional 50 megawatts of power generation expected from an Independent Power Producer (IPP), the Wood Group in partnership with Transdanubia from the United Kingdom has began at Tema as part of the emergency measures to resolve the energy crisis.
The first phase of 25 megawatts of the generating plant being installed is near completion for power to be evacuated and injected into the national grid by the Electricity Company of Ghana. The two companies would install an extra 10 megawatts of generating plant to serve as a back up, all of which would be under their management.A visit to the installation site on Wednesday at Tema led by Mr Kofi Adda, Minister of Energy indicated that the ECG would start distributing the power in about two weeks.
Briefing the press earlier after taking delivery of some of the generating sets at the Kotoka International Airport, Mr Adda said the move was in fulfillment of the promise made to Parliament recently that 50 megawatts of power would soon come in from an IPP.
He said some of the sets arrived by sea whilst others were air lifted in order to meet the deadline set for the emergency programme, adding, "Government is demonstrating its commitment and would deliver as promised."
Work on the 80 megawatts of power by the mining companies and the 126 megawatts by the Volta River Authority at Tema were going on smoothly to meet targeted dates.
The Minister said the groundwork for the installation of another 20 megawatts of power in Kumasi was also progressing.