Ghana said on Tuesday that e nergy generation programme was on course to deliver 5,000 megawatts (mw)of power in the medium term as promise d during its political campaign.
“In terms of energy generation we are on course to fulfilling our (ruling Nation al Democratic Congress) manifesto promise of increasing energy generation capaci t y from the current 2,000 megawatts to 5,000 megawatts in the medium term,” Dr Jo e Oteng-Adjei, Minister of Energy, said at a press conference in Accra. He said at the inauguration of the new administration 7 January 2009, the instal led operational power generation capacity was 1,810 MW.
These comprised 1,020 MW from Akosombo and 160 MW from Kpong, two hydroelectric dams, 550 MW from Takorodi Thermal Plant and 80 MW from Mines Reserve Plant.
“As we speak, the total installed operational capacity has increased to 1,925 MW owing largely to the completion and commercial operation of the 126 MW Tema The r mal 1 Power Project.”
Dr Oteng-Adjei said beyond the existing plants, a total of about 1,305 MW of cap acity was under construction by the government and independent power producers w h ile other plans had been initiated to increase power generation capacity.
He said the level of capacity that the government sought to achieve would boost investor confidence, enable Ghana to supply adequate electric power to meet the g rowth in national electricity demand, and also for export to neigbouring countries. “We aim to be a net exporter of electricity by 2012,” he said.
He said currently 54 per cent of the country was covered under the national grid and this would reach 70 per cent in 2012.
