Akosombo, ER, July 27, GNA - The Volta River Authority (VRA) has described as "encouraging" the current steady rise of water level at the Akosombo dam.

Mr Kirk Koffi, Director, Hydro Generation Department, VRA, said the steady rise of the water level at the dam from 234.98 feet to 235.01 feet marked a sign of progress towards finding lasting solutions to the energy crisis in the country.

Mr Koffi made these remarks at a duty tour by some Journalists to the dam to ascertain the current state of the water level at the site. He said the volume of the main tributaries of the dam had been increasing at a significant rate due to the recent rainfall pattern in the country, adding that the interim measures adopted by the VRA and the Ministry of Energy could help find the necessary solutions to the crisis by October this year.

"If the current trend of rainfall pattern continues unabated, we are likely to experience upward increase in the water level" he said. Mr. Koffi used the occasion to dispel the notion that the construction of dams in Burkina Faso would have impact on the flow of the Volta Lake adding, "The dams built in these areas do not use much volumes of water like Akosombo".

Mr. Kwesi Amoako, Plant Manager, VRA, said the turbines had been renovated since 2002 to 2005 and that they were in good conditions, adding that the two turbines currently being used at the dam could cater for the current water level.

Mr. Amoako said the 136 megawatts diesel plants and the 50 megawatts of energy at Tema were some of the short term measures to deal with the current situation adding, "We are working towards the deadline of September".