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February, 2013 News
Press Release: Update on the Current Energy Crisis
Following pirate activities in the Togolese waters in August last year leading to the destruction of the West African Gas Pipeline which has resulted in the curtailment of gas supply to the country's thermal facilities at Aboadze, Tema and the Asogli Power Plant, the country has been faced with a generational shortfall of about 200MW.
Additionally, the need by the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) for a spinning reserve margin of 50MW to guarantee system reliability and prevent a destabilization of the power system during emergency situations as well as the increase in demand of about a 100MW in the last 12 months has contributed significantly to the inadequate supply of power to the national grid.
Furthermore, the shutdown of Units SC 2 and SC1 at the T2 Plant (TICO) at Aboadze for mandatory Combustion Inspection and Hot Gas Path Inspection respectively in February has also resulted in an additional loss of 100MW of power to the system.
The above has created a situation where the country's available supply of 1,500MW does not meet the country's demand of 1750MW resulting in the current load management exercise being undertaken by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
The Way Forward
It is the expectation of the Management of the VRA that with the return to service of the West African Gas Pipeline Company (WAGPCo) by close of April 2013, all thermal facilities will resume full operations thereby increasing generation capacity. This, in the short term, will ensure improved power supply to consumers, make available a system reserve margin and reduce the load management being undertaken by the ECG.
Similarly, it is anticipated that other initiatives being put in place in the medium to long term will ensure that additional generation is created to guarantee the supply of continuous, adequate and a more reliable power supply to our consumers as well as enable GRIDCo maintain its reserve margin to provide stability for the power system.
The initiatives are outlined below:
Intervention |
Timeline |
Expected Generation (MW) |
Completion and Commissioning of T3 Project at Aboadze |
End of February, 2013 |
132MW |
Commissioning of the Solar Energy Plant at Navrongo in the Upper East Region |
End of February, 2013 |
2MW |
Commencement of operations of a unit at the Bui Power Plant |
End of April, 2013 |
130MW |
Construction of the Kpone Thermal Plant |
End of 2014 |
200MW |
Completion of theT2 (TICO) Expansion works |
End of 2015 |
100MW |
The Management of the Volta River Authority wishes to use this opportunity to thank consumers for their continued support for the Authority's effort at improving the efficiency of our generation system.
Make Energy Conservation a Way of Life, it Pays.
Issued by: The Management
Volta River Authority
Date/ Place: Accra/ February 7, 2013
In other news (February, 2013)
- Dodi Princess set to resume operations in september.
- Reverend Cockett visits alma mater.
- Media tours VRA facilities.
- VRA deploys Health Information Management System (HIMS).
- Akosombo International School Senior High School Entrance Examination into Form One.
