The Volta River Authority (VRA) has confirmed the water level of the Akosombo Dam is reducing but has allayed fears Ghana\u2019s Power situation was going to worsen in coming months.<\/p>\n
The water level of the Akosombo dam is reportedly reducing steadily and it is feared the situation could force a shutdown of the dam if conditions do not improve in 60 days.<\/p>\n
The Akosombo Dam serves as Ghana\u2019s biggest plant with an installed capacity of 1020 megawatts. It currently produces about 775 megawatts, which is 76% of installed capacity.<\/p>\n
A total shutdown of the dam will leave Ghana with only 538 megawatts of electricity which will not meet the demands of consumers.<\/p>\n
Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show<\/b>, <\/b>the Head of Communications at the Volta River Authority, Sam Fletcher confirmed the water level at Dam was dropping but was insistent the VRA has made plans to augument power supply should the dam be shutdown.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis isn\u2019t a situation that the VRA hasn\u2019t seen before, we have saw the worst in 2006 and 2010. We are making provisions for the thermal plant to come and augment what we would have lost in terms of capacity from the dam,\u201d he said<\/p>\n
He added that \u201cWe are still in the inflow season. The next three months ahead of us is described as the inflow period and things can change\u201d<\/p>\n
He also called on Ghanaians to remain calm, noting that \u201cwe are not saying this to create panic. We are saying this because we believe that Ghanaians have the right to know about this. We are managing it, we have managed it before and we have the capability to do so.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr. Sam denied that the dam was already under-producing saying\u00a0 \u201cwhat happening is that every figure we are having there is based on demand and it also based on which other sources are coming in.”<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t produce electricity because you want to do it, there are times that we have over produced to avoid longer period of load shedding\u201d he added<\/p>\n
He cautioned Ghanaians against misusng electricity.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe way we misuse power needs to be checked. Imagine we produce so much and even if we lose 30% in total\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we have 2000 and we are losing 30% there will be no need for load shedding. The way we use electricity, the way we treat this expensive commodity needs to be checked.\u201d<\/p>\n
By: Benjamin Epton Owusu\/citifmonline.com\/Ghana
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