Esiama (Western Region) 24 May ?99

Work is progressing steadily on the multi-million dollar Western Power Project of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC).

The erection of pylons and construction of the Esiama Sub-station for the supply of power to the Volta River Authority (VRA) for distribution, being undertaken by Sogelerg, a French company, are set to be completed before this September.

The project began in July 1998.

While work on the Esiama Sub-Station is about 95 per cent complete, the actual construction work at Elubo Sub-Station is yet to start.

Grading and excavation of the 120,000-cubic metre-project has been completed. Compacting has also begun.

GNPC has so far spent about ?1.5 billion cedis on the Elubo sub-station, according to Mr John Quarshie, GNPC site engineer.

The sub-stations will have control rooms for panels, guest houses, and offices.

Mr Jean Menlig-Baader, Project Co-ordinator of Sogelerg, told members of the Institute of Financial and Economic Journalists (IFEJ), on a tour of GNPC projects in the Western Region, that work is on schedule and will be completed within the estimated time.

He said about 170 kilometre lines are being constructed for the transmission of power to consumers of power from the Western Power Project.

Mr Kaal Laryea, Consultant and Civil Engineer attached to Sogelerg, said measures are being put in place to ensure that proper engineering standards are adhered to for the safety of the equipment.