Accra, Sept. 21, GNA - The Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) has started transmitting electricity through the West Africa Power Pool (WAPP) sponsored transmission line. The Project is designed to fit into the proposed West African Transmission Grid, and is being funded jointly by the Kuwait Fund, European Investment Bank, and the International Development Bank of the World Bank.

A statement signed by Albert Kwesi Quainoo, Head of Public Relations at GRIDCo, and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Tuesday, said the total estimated cost of the Project is $55.08 million , including a local component of GHc8.5 million, adding that about 95 per cent of the total cost had already been disbursed. It said the 220-kilometre transmission line had been completed and energised following the partial completion of the 161 kV and 330 kV Aboadze and Volta sub-stations, and the installation of an auto-transmitter each at both ends of the line. According to the statement, the newly completed Project also involved the erection and stringing of transmission towers and lines, the expansion of the 161 kV sub-stations at Aboadze and Tema, and the interfacing of the existing 161 kV network with the new 330kV facilities.

"We expect increased system stability as a result of putting this line into service, while it also provides an alternative pathway for the transfer of electrical power from the Western part of the country to the Accra-Tema industrial zone," said the release, quoting Mr Frank Otchere, Manager at the Systems Control Centre of GRIDCo. The release further stated that the Project is scheduled for completion in December 2010, by which time a 200 MVA auto-transformer would have been installed and put into service at both ends of the line, and said all equipment needed for the completion of the Project were available on site. "Among other things, the benefits GRIDCo expects to derive from the Project are increased power transfer capability and improved system voltages, as well as reduced overall transmission losses", statement said. 21 Sept 10