Minister Tours GRIDCo

Dr. Joe Oteng-Adjei (2nd from left) being briefed at the office of GRIDCo

The construction of a 161 kilo Volt (kV) sub-station to facilitate the evacuation of power from various plants into the national grid is progressing steadily.

The $25 million dollar project would ensure optimal power evacuation system that would address unavailability of adequate land and transmission line right of way, which the company described as a major constraint.

According to Charles Darko, Chief Executive Officer of GRIDCo, the project seeks to achieve the termination of the Volta- Smelter lines such that power can directly be injected at the new substation to make use of the power transfer capacity of the existing seven lines between Volta and Smelter.

Mr. Darko was addressing newsmen when the Minister of Energy, Dr. Joe Oteng-Adjei, paid a working visit to the project site as well as the company's offices in Tema.

The 18-month project is being undertaken by CONCO of South Africa and is expected to be completed by December, this year.

So far, Factory Acceptance Tests and the supply of Power Transformers are fully complete while detailed designs, earthworks and the procurement of electro-mech equipment are 90 per cent complete.

Testing and commissioning on site is expected to commence in October, 2012 while the Commercial Operation is scheduled to begin mid December.

Mr. Darko said the project will provide adequate and alternative power evacuation route for the three power plants connected directly to the New Tema substation – TT2PP, MRP, TT1P and Tema CENIT Power Project and the proposed steam turbine plant in the future.

He added that the project will also provide enhanced reliability for the evacuation of power from the Sunon Asogli Power and Cen Power plants as well as provide a more reliable transformer substation for the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) at Tema to reduce the dependence on the New Tema substation as the only bulk supply point for Tema and its environs.

Dr. Oteng-Adjei, on his part, said the government was working to ensure that it provides adequate and reliable energy supply to sustain the economic gains made over the years.

He said the 13.7 per cent growth in GDP currently being witnessed needed a strong and vibrant energy supply system to thrive.

The Minister noted that the construction of the 161kV substation and other projects will enhance electricity supply, which is very essential in industrialization.

Meanwhile, the Mallam Substation Upgrade Project (MSUP) is expected to be fully operational in May.

According to the GRIDCo boss, the company intends to improve security and reliability of power supply to Accra by upgrading the Mallam substation into the ultimate four diameter breaker-and-half bus scheme equipped with four power transformers and four 161kV lines.

He said the upgrade, when completed, will result in improved reliability, operational flexibility and maintenance of equipment for both Achimota and Mallam Substations which serve Accra and its immediate environs.

  From Business Desk