Thermal Plant Must Not Affect Environment - Kpone Youth

THE Kpone Youth Association (KYA), has called on the management of the Sunon-Asogli-Kpone power plant, to ensure that the construction and operation of its thermal plant do not adversely affect the environment.

Alex Nii Annang, Assistant Secretary of KYA, who made the call at a forum here last Saturday, said residents were concerned about the impact of the project on the environment and wanted to know what the operators would do to mitigate it.

He said the people were concerned because of the negative effects of two previous projects, the Kpone landfill site and the cemetery.

'The landfill project led to environmental pollution which compelled the youth to embark on a demonstration to demand redress,' he said.

The forum which was organised by KYA provided the management of the company the opportunity to interact with the youth.

The 650-million dollar thermal plant, which will produce 560 megawatts of power, is being undertaken by Shen-zhen Energy Group Corporation of China with financial support from the China Africa Development Fund.

It was initiated by the Agbogbomefia of the Asogli traditional area, Togbe Afede XIV.

Togbe Agbelom, project coordinator, assured the youth that no adverse environmental effects were expected from the project and therefore urged them to cooperate with the management to ensure its success.

He said that the project consultants had completed an impact assessment plan which was being considered by the Environmental Protection Agency and added that documents covering the land on which the project is sited was being processed by the Tema Development Corporation.

Togbe Agbelom said currently, platforms for the generators were being constructed and about 1000 workers were needed for the construction phase.

Saying that training opportunities abroad have been provided for higher national diploma and degree holders, he urged the youth with the requisite qualifications to take advantage of it.

Dr Din, director of Administration of the project, said the company had plans to support education and infras-tructure development in Kpone and therefore called for the cooperation of the residents to enable them to bring the project into fruition.