CAN 2008 to enjoy uninterrupted power - VRA

Accra, Jan. 18, GNA - The Volta River Authority (VRA) on Thursday said it was fully prepared to provide adequate uninterrupted power supply throughout the African Cup of Nations Tournament the country was hosting.

The Authority told the Ghana News Agency that: "VRA has made adequate arrangements such as the provision of generating sets to serve as standby power plants at all the four stadia in the country for the tournament to start this Sunday January 20." Mrs. Gertrude Koomson, of the Corporate Affairs Department of the VRA, who gave the assurance said technicians to man the various equipment have been given orientation to effectively carry out their duties.

She said, "even though the VRA is currently running two to three turbines at Akosombo, it can conveniently operate all the six turbines when the need arises given the water level as at today." The VRA official said Ghanaians and their brothers and sisters from other African nations would have enough power to enjoy their football matches but added: "This is the time that we should also know that conservation of energy is key."

"The 550 Megawatts (MW) Thermal Plants at Aboadze, Government's Emergency Power Programme are all in place to ensure uninterrupted supply," Mrs Koomson said.

She expressed the optimism that for the next five to ten years Ghana would not experience another energy crisis considering the massive investment that Government has made in the sector. "Several measures such as the Emergency Power Programme that has installed over 150 megawatts of plants, the 80MW by the mine companies, the VRA 126MW at Tema and those by the Independent Power Producers (IPPs) have been put in place," Mrs. Koomson noted.

According to her, the refreshing news was the arrival of gas into the country under the West African Gas Pipeline Project which would be used to power the Thermal Plants and the Osagyefo Barge as well as others that were yet to be undertaken.

"VRA is also to install 300 MW Thermal Plant at Tema by 2010 which will be powered by the same gas," she said and added that VRA was well positioned to effectively manage the power situation. Besides, Mrs Koomson said, rehabilitation of the transmission lines had started all over the country to ensure improved evacuation of power at all power generating stations.