Ghana opens 400 megawatts power station
Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama on Thursday inaugurated the Bui generating power station at Bui in the Banda District of Brong-Ahafo Region to add 400 megawatts of power to the national electricity grid.
The dam will increase the country’s generation capacity by about 20 per cent thus enhancing power supply in general and in particular the reliability and security of power supply to the Northern sector of the country.
President Mahama said the country had chalked out a remarkable stride in its energy sector and expressed optimism that with the on-stream of the Bui dam, the national energy crisis would be ameliorated.
He expressed appreciation to former President John Agyekum Kufuor, for taking a bold decision in securing loan from the Chinese government for the construction of the dam.
President Mahama also commended the chiefs and people of Banda traditional area for their cooperation with the Bui Power Authority (BPA), managers of the dam.
He said government cherishes its long standing relationship with China and expressed the hope that such relationship would be strengthened for mutual benefit.
Mr Jabesh Amissah-Arthur, Chief Executive Officer of the BPA, said other associated and non-power works on the project would continue till the second quarter of 2014 when all works on the project would be completed.
The Bui hydro electric project was designed primarily for hydro-power generation. It however includes the development of an irrigation scheme for agriculture development and presents an opportunity for enhanced eco-system and fisheries.
It also comprises a resettlement and community support programme.
The project, which was expected to cost about $622 million, was funded with a concessional loan of $263.5 million from China, a buyer’s credit of $298.5 million from the EXIM Bank of China together with government’s contribution of 60 million dollars.
It however experienced a funding shortfall of 168 million dollars, arising primarily from the unanticipated effects of the 2008 global financial upheavals as well as unforeseen essential works.
Source: GNA