President Mahama inaugurates second phase of Asogli power plant
President John Dramani Mahama has inaugurated the first unit of the second phase of the Sunon Asogli Power Plant Project that would add 180 megawatts of gas-fired power to Ghana’s power generation mix.
The second phase of the project would generate a total of 360 megawatts when the second unit is brought on stream and boost the power generation capacity of the country.
At a colourful ceremony at the Sunon Asogli Plant at Kpone near Accra, President Mahama said the project when completed would augment the many other interventions being made at improving the energy supply of the country.
He said project feeds into the vision of his government to provide the country with at least 5000 megawatt power generation capacity.
President Mahama, who was joined by Mr Yu Zhengsheng the Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) to inaugurate the plant, said his government was determined to establish Ghana as the power hub of West Africa.
He said Ghana would take advantage of the West African electricity market and export excess power to be generated to countries with power deficits.
The President noted that the inability of the West African Gas Pipeline Project to supply the quantum of gas needed to fire the various thermal units in the country had created a shortfall of over 750 megawatts of power in the eastern power enclave in Tema.
He said government was hastening the process of reversing the flow of excess gas from the Western oil platforms to cater for the Eastern power enclave to give the needed boost to increase power production.
President Mahama, as part of measures to increase power production, said Ghana has signed an agreement with Quantum Energy and Sahara Energy for the deployment of two floating storage regasification units to supply Liquefied Natural Gas to the Eastern power enclave.
He said the commencement of the TEIN field and the exploitation of ENI’s Sankofa field, as well as projections to bring the greater jubilee field on stream would ensure that the country gets a steady supply of gas for the next two decades.
President Mahama commended the government of China for its continuous support to Ghana’s power generation efforts, adding that the Sunon Asogli Plants were contributing significantly to the country’s generation capacity.
Mr Yu, who was on a four-day official visit to Ghana, was elated on the prospering relations between China and Ghana, expressing optimism that the Sunon Azogli Power project would contribute immeasurably to Ghana’s energy needs.
He pledged China’s continuous support for Ghana’s development efforts to bolster ties between the two nations.
The Project, which was constructed by the Shenzhen Energy Group of China, is expected, when completed, to supply about 20 percent of Ghana’s energy demand.
Source: GNA