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Energy
To further build capacity, Government also facilitated
the development of training and testing materials and
testing facilities in Tamale Polytechnic and Kwame Nk-
rumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)
for human resource development in Solar PV.
In addition, Government played a major role in the
signing of a protocol on off-grid solar electrification
for security outposts, schools and health centers. An
operational manual for providing matching grants
to support renewable services by the private sector
was also developed and Solar PV systems installed
in 75 rural health posts.
Going forward the Government of Ghana envisions
to further promote renewable energy technologies
(solar, wind and mini hydro), solar electrification pro-
ject in schools, security service and health centres.
In addition, Government intends to training more
personnel on solar PV systems as well as imple-
ment grid-connected solar PV and wind systems, re-
habilitate grid-connected solar system and develop
licensing and monitoring framework for the electricity
industry.
THERMAL POWER
The inclusion of thermal power in Ghana’s energy
mix has been further boosted with two new plants in
Tema. The 126 megawatts Tema Thermal 1 Power
Project (TT1PP) is now fully operational after being
commissioned in 2009. Other ongoing activities in-
clude the installation of 49.5 megawatts Tema Ther-
mal 2 Power Project (TT2PP) which is 95 per cent
complete. This adds to TAPCO- Takoradi I (330MW)
and TICO- Takoradi II (220KW).
In January 2010, expansion works commenced on
the Takoradi Thermal Power Plant at Aboadze in the
Shama District of the Western Region. The 132-meg-
awatt capacity combined cycle plant will consist of
four gas turbines, four heat recovery steam genera-
tors and two steam turbines. The gas turbines will
run on light oil, diesel oil and natural gas. Also, an
MoU has been concluded with TAQA, a United Arab
Emirates-based company, to carry out the expan-
sion of the Takoradi International Company (TICO)
power plant from 220 MW simple- cycle plant to a
combined-cycle plant of 330 MW.
The 80 megawatt Mines Reserve Power Plant, which
was constructed at a cost of more than USD$45 mil-
lion in June 2007, has been made available to the
VRA to supplement any energy generation shortfalls
in the country. This was previously used by four min-
ing companies (Newmont Ghana Limited, Goldfields
Ghana, Anglogold-Ashanti, and Golden Star Re-
sources) only in load-shedding situations.
The 126MW Emergency Diesel Power Units which
were purchased by Government were largely un-
used owing to high cost of operation. Additionally,
work is soon to commence on the 132MW com-
bined-cycle power project which will be sited near
the VRA Thermal Power Plant in Aboadze.
OSAGYEFO POWER BARGE
The refurbished Osagyefo Power Barge adds to en-
ergy generation mix of the country. This was carried
out by Balkan Energy Company LLC, a US-based
Energy Company which partnered the Government
of Ghana to operationalise the Osagyefo power
barge. Balkan Energy entered into a 20-year agree-
ment with the government of Ghana to run the barge
and it is expected that Balkan Energy would convert
the barge into a combined cycle power plant with
an incremental capacity of 60MW at a cost of about
USD$100 million. The company would also pay the
Government of Ghana a yearly lease of USD$10 mil-
lion from the beginning of the 6th year to the 12th
year. The agreement shall be reviewed every five
years. This aims to augment the Akosombo and
Kpong Hydro-electric Power Plants as well as the
Aboadze Power Plant and a few others as a means
to address the power challenges of the country. The
barge, which is expected to generate 185 megawatts
of power, is a dual fired unit which can operate on
diesel as well as natural gas.
Private Sector Initiatives
in The Energy Sector
The current regime of power production is receiving
an active involvement of Independent Power Pro-
ducers (IPP). The Asogli Power Plant, for instance,
which is a full private sector financed power plant of
200 MW capacity, has been completed and await-
ing the availability of natural gas to commence op-
eration. On the expansion of Tema Thermal Power
Plant, VRA has concluded an agreement with Tema
Osonor Power Company, an IPP to expand the plant
by 126 MW and ultimately into a combined-cycle fa-
cility with a total capacity of about 330 MW.
Beyond the existing plants, a total of 1,611.5 MW of
capacity is currently under construction by Govern-
ment and Independent Power Producers while other
plans have been initiated to increase power genera-
tion capacity in the country.