Energy Crisis in Ghana: Is There A Possible Solution?

Ghana is currently going through energy crisis. Many Ghanaian are asking questions about how this crisis can be solved forever. Many others are blaming Valco for the crisis. I will not at this time blame anyone but would attempt to give suggestions on how this problem can be solved.

I do not want to believe that we need an engineering solution for this problem. I am an electrical engineer and have worked with the Tema Oil refinery and Valco. The basic solution of the energy crisis lies in government policy and decision-making on power generation. The next solution is how to acquire funds for the major power development in the country. If the government would focus on these two things the challenges of energy shortage can be solved.

Recently I read on the Databank web site ? The Effect of the Energy Crisis on the Economy of Ghana?. The analysis points to the fact that the economy will lose $800 million per annum, which could worsen if measures are not put in place to change the current situation. I think another solution lies in this analysis. If all the companies analyzed are prepared to lose $800 million in a year, what prevented them from putting $400 million in the development of Bui Dam or any of the potential hydropower generating stations over the years to stop this situation. The opportunity is still there for all to explore. The amount need to develop Bui Dam is $400 million. This amount needed to build Bui dam is half of what the companies are loosing but this would have been an investment for the companies if our leaders took wise and judicious decision. Not only would this money be an investment but will also ensure that they have power through out the year. We must not focused on the lost but ask how we can make use of our profit. It is time that we all think about solving Ghana?s problem than blame the government.

Another solution can come from the development levy. We may view these monies as insignificant but by studies in financial management has thought me that little drops of water make a might ocean. The development levy that the government was getting from companies could be a source of funds for the development of power generating capacity. SSNIT and other investment companies could source money to go into power generation and sell to companies that have the resources to pay.

Ghana has a great potential in hydropower generation and we must explore how we can tap this resource. ?Resource are not but they become? If we do not see this potential resource it would not be a resource to the country.

Below is a Table of potential hydropower generating capacity in Ghana.

No. Area Capacity/MW

1 Pwalugu 50

2 Koulbi 68

3 Daboya 43

4 Ntereso 64

5 Lanka 95

6 Bui 200

7 Jambitc 55

8 Juala 90

9 Asuaso 25

10 Sodukrom 17

11 Jomuro 20

12 Kojokrom 30

13 Awisam 50

14 Hemang 75

15 Abetemasu 50

16 Total Capacity 932

As a matter of policy the government must engage the private sector to develop this hydropower potential that exist in the country. I believe the almighty God knows how he distributed resources to his creatures. We must focus on hydro generation and minimize the use of crude oil in power generation. We can use the crude oil for our cars because we cannot but to use it. We have the potential to develop hydropower, we must explore it to the maximum of our ability.

Another solution is to explore the use of the flue gas at the Tema oil Refinery to generate power. The Tema Oil Refinery has the potential to produce power first by using the residue (heavy oil) and secondly by the gas that they push into the atmosphere. I know the potential generating capability but space would not allow me to expand on it.

We must not look at a large power generation like Akosmbo Dam. If we can generate from all these potential sources I believe Ghana will be self sufficient in power generation.

A major problem that the country faces is the sourcing of funds to harness all these potential hydropower capacity. The government must work with the major consumers of power to invest into a Joint Venture Capital to embark on these projects.

Views expressed by the author(s) do not necessarily reflect those of GhanaHomePage.