Bui Generating Station is in operation
The Bui Generating Station (Bui GS) is operational, contrary to media reports that the plant has been shut down owing to low reservoir level.
Although it is operating at a very low capacity, it has not been completely shut down.
In an interview, the Assistant External and Community Relations Officer of the Bui Power Authority (BPA), Mr Mawuli Fui Kwadzovia, said as a result of the Bui Reservoir reaching the minimum operating level, the rate of power generation at Bui GS had been reduced in order to protect the turbines from potential unexpected risk and possible damage.
“This is because it is less safe to operate the generating plant below the minimum operating level of the reservoir (168 masl), as this unduly exposes the turbines to higher risks of cavitation damage,” he said.
Monitoring
Mr Kwadzovia also said engineers at the plant were monitoring the water level on a daily basis in order to revise the generation plan accordingly.
He said the authorities were, however, optimistic that more water would flow into the reservoir for power generation during the upcoming rainy season.
The BPA was last Tuesday reported to have finally stopped generating power, following its announced cut in generation capacity.
However, later reports from the External and Community Relations Manager of the BPA, Mr Wombila Salifu, said the power facility was still in operation.
According to him, the capacity had been reduced to 1.44 million kilowatt-hours per day, as against a previous capacity of 90 mega watts daily.
TICO
In a related development, the CEO of the Takoradi International Company (TICO), Nana Osafo Adjei said engineers were still working on one of its units that was shut down last Friday, June 6, 2014.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in an interview, he said after maintenance works had been carried out on one of the two turbines at the Takoradi 2 Thermal Power, it was detected that the unit could not produce the required 110 megawatts of power but was rather producing between 30 and 40 megawatts, after it was synchronised onto the national grid.
Nana Adjei said there were also high vibrations within the turbines when it was swtiched on, a situation which he said was not normal.
The unit has since been shut down and according to him, engineers were currently on site trying to find out what might be the cause.
Presently, the Takoradi Thermal Plant is producing at a capacity of 110 megawatts, using only one unit.
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