We will resolve power crisis by end of December – Chief Director

Solomon Asoalla - Chief Director, Power Ministry
Solomon Asoalla – Chief Director, Power Ministry

The Chief Director of the Ministry of Power, Solomon Asoalla says by the end of December 2015, the power crisis will be resolved.

“You call it Dumsor, for us they are challenges. We are working 24/7 and by the end of December we will resolve it,” he said on the final day of a two-day Post Budget Analysis Forum.

The crisis which has resulted in power rationing in the country has negatively impacted the economy. Dr. Kwadwo Tutu of the University of Ghana argued that the impact of the crisis has not fully been quantified, as there impacts on health and the fact that people are having sleepless nights as a result.

Mr. Asoalla however, stated that the Ministry is on track to resolve the energy crisis, adding that a number of power plants have come on stream.

He said in October the TICO plant which is a 330MW plant has been operating since October. The Kpone plant which is a 220MW plant would provide 110MW before the end of the year, he said.

The Sunon Asogli plant which is a 360MW plant, would start injecting 180MW of power by the end of the year and the other 180MW would come into stream next year.

He indicated that the VRA TT2 PP which is a 49.5MW plant is undergoing expansion to add 38MW, and it is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

He also told the Forum that the Karpower barge imported from Turkey may arrive in the country by Friday. The barge arrived in Ivory Coast because Ghana doesn’t have deepwater landing facilities for the large ship that carried the barge. It would now be towed from Ivory Coast waters into Ghana.

Mr. Asoalla stated that gas turbines for the AMERI plant are being fixed. The plant, he said has 10 turbines and by the end of the year “not less than six would be completed by end of year,” he said.

He noted that from next year, the Power Ministry would concentrate on sustainability and not additions. On the Atuabu gas project, he said the plant is producing at full capacity, but he is not sure if that would be sufficient to power all the plants it is expected to.

The Forum was jointly organized by the Ministry of Finance and the Institute of Financial and Economic Journalists, Ghana.

By Emmanuel K. Dogbevi

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