Power plants imported to curb shortage

Accra, Feb. 28, GNA-Government on Wednesday morning took delivery of 50 megawatts of power plants at the Kotoka International Airport as part of a first phase emergency power programme.

The plants, which were air lifted from the United States of America were purchased by the government at a cost of 26 million dollars through Marison Energy Systems and Ring Power, two energy companies based in Massachusetts and Florida respectively.

Mr Kofi Adda, Minister of Energy, Mr Kwabena T. Hammond, the Deputy Energy Minister and Mrs Dina Hammond, the Chief Director together with other energy experts met the crew of the Ukrainian Antonov Cargo Plane, which landed at 0515 hours at the Airport to take delivery of the generating plants.

Briefing the press, Mr Adda said the plants would come in 38 units, 32 of which would be lifted by air in series of trips. The other six would arrive by sea for installation at Tema before the end of March. He said in total, 110 megawatts of power would be installed at the Tema PSC Shipping Yard. He announced that plans were far advanced for the arrival of the other 60 megawatts plants.

Mr Adda reiterated that there would be no power interruption for two weeks from March 1 this year, after which the national load shedding programme would be reviewed.

He gave the assurance that government was working around the clock to normalise the power situation in the country within the shortest possible time.

Mr Adda said a lot had gone on with the programme, explaining that the requisite transformers and other equipment that would enable the evacuation of power after the installation has been completed. He said installations of the generating plants commence this week at the Tema site without any delay.