Management of the Kpone Thermal Plant is assuring of improved power generation in a few weeks.
This follows an improvement in gas supply from Nigeria and the Atuabo Gas Plant.
The West African Gas Pipeline, WAPCo, increased its supply capacity to between 102 million standard cubic feet and 147 million standard cubic feet early this month.
[contextly_sidebar id=”Wv2HIPh13sQhNQ79KOX3r2nYNfySbUSF”]The situation, according to Manager of the Kpone Thermal plant, Francis Agbanyo, will stabilize the power sector.
“We are now getting substantial supply of gas from Nigeria about 150 million standard cubic feet a day which is even more than the contractual amount of 120 million standard cubic feet. We also know that the Atuabo Gas has come back so if all these things are happening, it is going to have a massive impact on power generation what it means is that Atuabo gas can supply all the units in Aboadze and they will all be running on gas reliably. And then what it also mean is that all the units currently in Tema can also run on gas,” he said.
Mr. Agbenyo was however concerned with the sustainability of the gas supply from Nigeria.
“The issue is whether what is coming from Nigeria will be sustainable enough or not because the system in Nigeria as I know is that if Nigeria’s unit has a problem and they are not able to take the gas then the extra gas comes to Ghana,” he stated.
The Kpone Thermal Power Plant (KTPP) is expected to produce 220 megawatts out of a total of 257 megawatts of power expected to be added to the national grid between October and November this year.
Mr. Agbenyo was however optimistic of an improvement in the generation capacity of the Akosombo Dam in the coming months. According to him, the onset of the rains in the Northern part of the country will enable them harvest of water for some time.
Presently, officials of the engineering department at the Akosombo Dam are awaiting a response from government to enable it shut down two of its turbines following a drop in water levels.
The dam is currently running on 5 out of the 6 turbines and is producing 636 megawatts of electricity.
Inconsistent power supply in the country compelled the Electricity Company of Ghana to shed the meager load it gets.
“Currently, I learnt the rains have started falling in the North so we expect that from now to December, this is the harvest season when we will harvest the water. So from August going on, the water level should start going up that is the normal phenomenon. Whether you will have above or below average inflows is subject to forecast. If we should have below average inflows again this year, then it will affect us what it means is that we will not have enough but if we have enough above average inflows, then it means we can generate substantially from Akosombo next year and it will help everybody,” Francis Agbanyoe added.
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By: Pius Amihere Eduku/citifmonline.com/Ghana.