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A former Chief Executive of electricity generators, the Volta River
Authority (VRA), Dr. Charles Wereko-Brobby, has painted an optimistic
picture of Ghana's energy crisis.
He says the power challenges, called 'dumsor' in local parlance could
improve by July and end by December when maintenance works on
important power installations is complete.
"We should be able certainly before July or if not be able to return
to 12-hours off, moving very much towards of the end of the year, we
should be able to return to business as usual", he predicted on Joy
FM's Super Morning Show Monday.
But he undercuts the optimism with a caveat that it will ultimately
require government paying off its debt to Nigeria to guarantee
consistent gas supply to Ghana's thermal plants.Tracing a vicious
cycle of debt, Dr. Wereko Brobby explained that government owes the
Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) about$1.6billion while ECG owes the
VRAa similar amount.
VRA owes Nigeria $130million completing the cycle of power-related debts.
According to Wereko Brobby, maintenance works on TICO unit No.1 was
completed in April releasing 100megawatts more to the national
grid.Kpong thermal plant is expected tobe restored by May. It will
generate 36 megawatts.
TICO Steam turbine is scheduled to be up and running by May and will
bring 100 more crucial megawatts this month.
The 180megawatts Sunon Asogli expansion plant is projected to produce
power at full capacity by June, he continued.
These improvements in power supply in coming weeks means the500mw
deficit which is the cause of the current load shedding could be
bridged.
This progressive state of affairs means the days of dumsor are
numbered, he argued.
To ensure the sustainability of regular power supply, Dr.
Wereko-Brobby is encouraging governmentto pay off its huge debts.
"Already Nigeria has officially put us on notice," that we need to
honour our financial obligations, the former VRA CEO revealed.
If Nigeria cuts its gas, Asogli will be shut down and a domino effect
of shutdowns will ravage through Ghana's thermal power enclave in
Takoradi.
Dr. Wereko-Brobby believes that itis not prudent to invest huge monies
in power barges from Turkey and Dubai when the moneyis needed to
immediately solve "a real and present danger" of havinggas supply cut
off from Nigeria.
Credit: Myjoyonline.com
He wants government to focus on "paying off ECG debts so ECG can pay
VRA and VRA pay can Nigeria".
