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| Akosombo: One More Turbine Goes |
7/24/2007 |
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The Volta River Authority (VRA) has announced that the decision to shut down one of the turbines of the Akosombo Hydro-electric Plant would be determined by the end of this month. “With the water level of the Akosombo reservoir at 234.96 feet, VRA has no plans to shut down the Akosombo hydro-electric plant completely.
But if the situation continues, we will consider shutting down one of the generating units by the July 31,” Acting Chief Executive of the VRA, Eric Yankah told journalists at a press conference in Accra yesterday.
Currently, only two out of the six power generating units of the Akosombo hydro-electric plant are operating, but Mr Yankah said that there was ample water for running the two turbines, and that there was absolutely no danger. He acknowledged that the water level had been dropping drastically, noting however that the Authority together with government was taking some radical measures to contain the situation.
According to Mr Yankah, the current situation was not the first time that the Akosombo generating station had to operate at a level below 235 feet, adding that VRA would do its best to ensure that the situation was surmounted.
He mentioned some of the prudent steps being undertaken to restore electricity supply to the country as the installation of about 392 megawatt capacity thermal plant by the end of the year and an 84 megawatt Ranhill power plant, as well as the importation of 6 million compact fluorescent lamps to be distributed free of charge to consumers.
The acting Chief Executive of the VRA announced also that the Balkan Group, an international consortium, was having negotiations with government for the commissioning of the 125 Megawatt Osagyefo power barge.
Since August last year, the country''s major source of electrical power, the Akosombo Dam, had suffered a severe setback as a result of the drastic drop in the water level, thus forcing the VRA to reduce the power it supplied to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) for distribution. The situation had led to a nationwide power rationing exercise to avert a total collapse of the dam.
Government, on its part, is putting in place short-term measures to address the situation. This includes the installation of power generating plants in Tema and Kumasi to generate more than 500 megawatts of energy to make up for the shortfall of about 400 megawatts.
Source: D. Guide
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