US to support Ghana to improve living conditions

Aboadze (W/R), Sept. 7, GNA - Pamela Bridgewater, United States Ambassador, has expressed satisfaction at the collaboration and the excellent relationship between Ghana and her country and affirmed her readiness to work for more support for the government to achieve improved living standards for the people.

She was addressing workers of the Aboadze Thermal Plant on Wednesday after inspecting the facility as part of her visit to the Western Region.

Ambassador Bridgewater, whose visit was the first to the Volta River Authority (VRA) Thermal Plant, advised the workers to give of their best for the implementation of policies and programmes that would enhance the energy sector.

Mr Joseph Kofi Adda, Minister of Energy, who was also in the Region to inspect institutions and facilities under his Ministry accompanied the US Ambassador.

He spoke of plans by a joint team from the Takoradi International Company (TICO) a US power-producing firm at Aboadze and the VRA to expand the operations of the Thermal Plant.

After the expansion, the Thermal Plant would produce additional 110 mega watts of electricity through the combined use of fuel and gas. Mr Adda said this would drastically reduce the cost of producing electricity from the Thermal Plant.

At the moment more than 32 million dollars is used every month to import light crude oil to run the plant, the energy Minister disclosed. The rehabilitation of a rotor of the facility was on-going and when completed in October, the plant would generate additional 165-mega watts electricity after which the current load shedding arrangements would be reviewed, Mr Adda said.

Mr Joshua Ofedie, Chief Executive Officer of VRA had earlier conducted Ambassador Bridgewater and Mr Adda round the Thermal Plant.