VRA, ECG says there is no load shedding now

Accra, 30 Jan., GNA- The Volta River Authority (VRA) and Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), on Wednesday denied media speculations that that the power regulators have resumed load shedding exercise, which rocked the nation a few moths ago, sending shock waves across the business community in the country.

The load shedding exercise lasted about a year and disorganized some businesses and had telling effects on domestic electricity consumers. A joint statement issued by the two power regulators assured the public not to panic as far as energy supply was concerned. The statement noted, "These speculations are being substantiated by the fact that the level of the Akosombo dam is declining and there are isolated cases of power outages in the country".

"We wish to assure all electricity consumers that we have not resumed any load shedding exercise. The load shedding exercise was necessitated by a shortage in supply in 2006. Currently, there is no shortage in supply".

The statement confirmed that all the units at the Akosombo were available and the lake level which was at 254 feet today was 13 feet above the minimum operating level of 240feet and higher than the forecast for Wednesday.

It stated, "There is also additional generation from the thermal plants at Aboadze and emergency plants, as well as, imports from Ivory Coast. There is therefore enough supply at all times to meet the demand."

The statement explained that the Akosombo operated as a reservoir which stored water during the rainy season and used up in the dry season thus "it is normal for the reservoir to drop during the dry season." The statement noted that there were isolated cases of power outages which were mainly due to faults and the ECG had put in place standby teams to restore power within the shortest possible time.