BEIJING, China -- Ghana's energy minister said on Thursday it was close to finalizing a $600 million deal with China's Sino Hydro Corporation to build at 400 megawatt hydroelectric dam in the north of the West African country.

Financing will come from state-owned policy lender Export-Import Bank of China, the minister, Joseph Adda, said.

Speaking to Reuters, on the eve of a summit hosted by China for African leaders to discuss development cooperation, he said "It's virtually done; what's left is that we would like the Chinese to increase the grant element from 50 to 70 percent. That means we would pay for 30 per cent of the cost instead of half"

Ghanaian President John Kufuor met on Thursday with Fan Jixiang, group president of Sino Hydro Corporation, which is bidding to build the dam at Bui on the Black Volta river.

Ghana, with an installed generating capacity of 1,700 MW, is rationing electricity due to low water levels at two dams on the Volta River.

The power rationing has affected industry, including the operations of foreign gold mining companies, and caused a public outcry.

Nearly two-thirds of the country's electric power comes from the Akosombo and Kpong dams in the east of the country. The rest is generated from thermal power.
"The Bui dam is uppermost in my heart," President Kufuor told Fan. "And I'll be discussing it with president Hu Jintao."
The two leaders are scheduled to meet on Friday on the sidelines of the China-Africa summit.

China assures Ghana of financial support for Bui Dam Project

>From Kwaku Osei Bonsu, GNA Special Correspondent, Beijing, China.

Beijing, Nov. 3, GNA - The Bui Hydro Electric Dam Project is now close to becoming a reality as Chinese President Mr Hu Jintao, gives firm assurance of support for its funding.

About 600 million dollars is needed for the construction of the Dam, which had been on the drawing board since the 1960's. It would generate about 400 megawatts of electricity.

The Chinese initially offered a 50 percent concessionary loan towards the Project, but Ghana, pushed for 70 percent. Speaking during bilateral talks with President John Agyekum Kufuor at the Beijing Great Hall on Friday, Mr Hu said his government would support Chinese Companies involved in negotiations for the project to secure the needed funding.

A six-member team has already been constituted by the Chinese to work with their Ghanaian counterparts on the financial and technical details of the deal.

President Kufuor, who is in the Chinese Capital to participate in the China-Africa Heads of State Summit, which would define investment and trade relations between China and Africa in the coming years, had earlier on Thursday met with a delegation of the Sino Hydro Corporation, the Chinese contractors likely to undertake the project. He was scheduled to hold another meeting with the Exim Bank of China on the financing, later on Friday afternoon.

President Hu informed President Kufuor of plans to broaden the scope of Ghanaian export commodities that enjoy zero tariffs to balance the trade between the two countries.

Trade between Ghana and China last year stood at 769 million dollars and this was skewed towards the Chinese. Additionally, China is also to increase the number of its educational scholarship to Ghanaians.

He said he was happy with the relations that existed between the two countries and that they would work to enhance the political and mutual trust.

President Hu recalled his meeting with President Kufuor on the sidelines of the Afro-Asian Summit in Jakarta in April last year, where they exchanged views on bilateral issues and matters of common concern and said he was happy to see him back in China for the China-Africa Summit.

President Kufuor said Ghana was serious in its desire to deepen its relations with China.

He extended an invitation to President Hu to attend the Golden Jubilee celebration of Ghana's Independence, next year. President Kufuor at his meeting with the Sino Hydro Corporation delegation led by its Group President, Mr Fan Jixiang, said the Bui Project was uppermost in his heart and that he would want to see the project take off without delay.

He said Ghana would be happy to partner the Corporation, which is the biggest hydro electric construction firm in China, in its implementation, adding that the critical importance of hydro energy for socio-economic development could not be underestimated. Mr Fan said the Project should be a "win-win" in terms of its technical operations and financing.