Accra, Aug. 26, GNA -- The Volta River Authority (VRA) and Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) have instituted a load management programme because of the drop in the water level of the Volta Lake. A statement signed by Ms Abla Fiadjoe, Acting Director Corporate Services, Volta River Authority, and Erasmus Kyere Baidoo, Senior Public Relations Officer, Electricity Company of Ghana, said the load shedding programme had been necessitated by lower than normal inflows into the feeder tributaries of the Volta Lake.

It said the inflows of water into the Volta Reservoir so far this year have been below average

The statement said at present 'the VRA relies on the Volta Reservoir to produce over 60 per cent of its power from the Akosombo and Kpong generating stations, the balance of which is supplied from the thermal plants at Aboadze and via imports from Cote d'Ivoire.

"Currently, all the available units at the Aboadze Thermal Plant complex are running at full capacity fired by light crude oil, the price of which is very high and continues to rise. The use of expensive crude oil has the potential of impacting on tariffs.

"Consequently, with only a few weeks left of the major rainy season, the VRA and ECG have instituted a load management programme to optimise the use of the available water in the Volta Reservoir to bring the Lake to an appreciable level to restore normal production between now and throughout next year (2007). This is expected to forestall any undue drawdown of the Volta Reservoir.

'It is expected that these measures will lead to a rise in the level of the Akosombo Reservoir and make available cheaper hydropower to blend with the expensive crude oil fired thermal power for the benefit of customers.'

The statement said: 93Failure to take these measures now could lead to far more widespread power cuts for most part of next year.

"The load management programme is expected to be a short term arrangement. The VRA and ECG are taking steps to minimise the inconvenience to customers and the plan will be reviewed in a month.

"The VRA and ECG call on electricity consumers to reduce their consumption through productive and efficient use of energy by instituting their own voluntary but necessary energy-conservation measures such as limiting the use of high consuming appliances.

"The VRA and ECG count on the utmost cooperation of the consuming public at this critical time and will produce further updates to the general public."