Energy Minister, Emmanuel Kofi Buah says the country?s power generation situation will see a steady improvement as the Bui Dam hydroelectric project comes on stream.
According to him, the multi-million dollar Bui Hydro Power Project in the Banda District in the Brong Ahafo Region will add some 400 megawatts of power?onto the national grid.
President John Mahama will on Thursday, December 19, 2013 officially inaugurate the Bui power generating station.
The project was funded with a concessionary?loan of US$263.5 million and a buyer?s credit of US$298.5 million from China and EXIM Bank respectively, while the government contributed US$60 million.
In an interview with Joy News, Kofi Buah said although one turbine from the dam has been in operation since May 2013, Ghana will enjoy the total capacity of Bui when the project is inaugurated.
He indicated that the project is part of government?s plans to increase power generation to five thousand megawatts by 2015.
Kofi Buah said government remains focused on improving the power generation capacity to end the erratic power supply in the country.
But a member of the Energy Committee and Member of Parliament for Afigya Sekyere South, William Owuraku Aidoo said the Bui dam cannot run full 24 hours, seven days a week as many expect.
He said the three turbines of the Bui Dam on stream will run at the peak time when there is much demand for power.
?The water at the Bui catchment area is not as much as Volta Lake where we have the Akosombo dam. If the three turbines were to run on full capacity for three and half months, the water will just go down? he added.
William Owuraku Aidoo said looking at the investment made at the energy sector, government will be challenged in attaining its five thousand megawatts by 2015.
Source Myjoyonline
