Expansion work begins on Takoradi Thermal Plant

President John Dramani Mahama yesterday cut the sod at Aboadze in the Western Region for expansion works on the Takoradi 2 (T2) thermal plant to generate an additional 110 megawatts (MW) of power.

Work on the 110 MW steam turbine will increase the total installed capacity of the Takoradi International Company (TICO) to 330 MW.

The $330-million expansion project, which will be completed in 27 months, is being financed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), with support from a consortium, including the OPEC Fund and the African Development Bank (AfDB).

Contractors for the project are Kepco E&C of Korea and Mutsui of Japan.

TICO is a joint venture between the Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with a 90 per cent stake, and the Volta River Authority (VRA), with a 10 per cent stake.

In his address, President Mahama said Ghana was on course to increase its energy installed capacity from 2,445MW to 5,000MW by 2016 to position the country to regain its position as a net exporter of power in the West African sub-region.

He said the expansion of the T2 to generate an additional 110MW was part of efforts at increasing energy generation in the country.

He said the Bui Power Project would add 133 MW to the national grid next week and increase the generation to 400 MW by the third quarter of the year.

President Mahama, who had earlier inspected work on the gas processing plant being executed by the Ghana Gas Company at Atuabo in the Western Region, indicated that work on the plant was far advanced.

Consequently, he said, the plant would start supplying gas to power the country's thermal plants as scheduled by the end of the year.

''I am confident that the target date to supply our own gas by the end of this year is achievable," he said.

The President said the Takoradi 3, on which work began in 2010, had started providing 132MW to the national grid.

Besides, the government would invest more in renewable energy such as solar energy.

He said the country's energy demand increased by about 10 per cent annually and affirmed the government's resolve "to expand our capacity to provide Ghana with reliable and affordable power".

The Minister of Energy and Petroleum, Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, assured Ghanaians that the present load shedding was temporary and that soon the situation would be over.

The Chief Executive Officer of TAQA, Mr Carl Sheldon, said safety was the hallmark of his company and gave an assurance that the partnership with the VRA would be strengthened.

The Managing Director of TICO, Nana Osafo Adjei, said TICO had an excellent record of performance, reliability and safety in the 13 years of operation in the country.

The Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs of the UAE, Mr Khalid Al Gaith, commended Ghana for its economic growth and indicated that the UAE was into the partnership not only for the gains but also to strengthen its friendship with Ghana. 

Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru & Moses Dotsey Aklorbutu