The expectation of many Ghanaians that the possible rectification of the energy crisis could be coming to an end very soon was dashed yesterday when the Chief Executive Officer of the Volta River Authority (VRA), Mr. Joshua Ofeidie, broke the news that the country will further experience a more severe form of load shedding beginning today.

According to Mr. Ofeidie, hydro energy still constitutes some 60 per cent of the nation’s energy supply hence the reduction in hydro availability has created a shortfall in energy supply for this year.

He further disclosed that the total demand of the system for this year is about 10,152 Gigawatts per hour and the total available hydro generation is only 3,370 Gw/h, with an additional 3,241Gw/h generated from the Aboadze Thermal Plant, leaving a deficit of about 3,541 Gw/h.

Briefing the media on the electrical energy situation in Ghana in Accra yesterday, Mr. Ofeidie outlined some of the short-term measures taken by the VRA in consultation with the Government and other stakeholders in addressing the energy deficit.

He said the nation has agreed to procure and install about 136MW of emergency power plant from which the first 50 Megawatts has already been installed at Tema and is being tested prior to commencement of commercial operations by the end of this month.

He stated that a consortium of mining companies is also working with VRA to develop an 80 Megawatt thermal plant in Tema, which is expected to be commissioned in two months time.

Additionally, the VRA with support from the Government is building a 126MW crude – oil fire thermal plant which he noted is also intended to be concluded in five months time.

In response to public outcry of VRA’s supply of energy to some neighbouring countries, Mr. Ofeidie said following the commissioning of transmission lines between Nigeria and Benin, Benin is now able to receive part of their energy supply from Nigeria, hence reducing VRA supply to Togo and Benin from one hundred Megawatts to 25 Megawatts, leaving the remaining 75 Megawatt for domestic use.