Veep optimistic Bui dam will be completed on schedule
Vice President Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur on Tuesday expressed appreciation at the progress of work for the on-going Bui Hydro-Electric Power Project at Bui in the Brong-Ahafo Region.
He was optimistic that the Bui Power Authority (BPA) and Sinohydro, Chinese Construction firm on the project would be able to complete the project on schedule.
Vice President Amissah-Arthur was speaking when he paid a visit to the dam site, where he visited the resettlement camp, two saddle dams and the main generating plant.
He was accompanied by Mr Emmanuel Kofi Armah Buah, Minister of Energy and Petroleum, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister and his Deputy Mr Justice Samuel Adjei and Mr James Agyenim-Boateng, Office of the Vice President.
Vice President Amissah-Arthur said within few weeks BPA would generate the expected mega watts of power to the country.
He said two other on-going power generation plants in other parts of the country would be completed by the end of the year.
Mr Jabesh Amissah-Arthur, Chief Executive Officer of BPA said, with 92 per cent of work completed the project would be on stream by the end of this month.
He commended Vice President Amissah-Arthur for the visit, which he said, would encourage the workers to improve on their performance to complete the project.
Mr Armah Buah, the Sector Minister said, so far $700 million had been spent on the project.
In addition, government had released money for the additional shortfall which occurred.
Four transmission lines are being constructed to transmit power from the Bui generating plant to the national grid, through four GRIDCo substations in Sawla, Techiman, Kintampo and Sunyani.
The Bui Hydroelectric Power Project on the Black Volta is designed for hydro power generation, development of an irrigation scheme for agricultural development and an opportunity for enhanced eco-tourism and fisheries. It also includes a resettlement and community support programme.
The main project is estimated at $622 million. It is being funded with a concessional loan of $263.5 million from the Chinese Government and a Buyer’s credit of $298.5 million from the EXIM Bank in addition to government’s contribution of $60 million.
Source: GNA