Asogli to use coal to produce power

Business News of Wednesday, 4 February 2015

Source: citifmonline.com

Asogli Power Plant

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Sunon Asogli Power Plant, Togbe Afede XIV has announced plans by his company to go into the production of power using coal.

Togbe Afede said the current energy demand in the country required other means of generating power for the citizenry.

Speaking to journalists after President Mahama toured the Sunon Asogli Power Plant on Tuesday; Togbe Afede said feasibility studies on the project are underway to ensure the production of 700 megawatts of coal in the first phase to ensure consistent power supply.

“Work has already started on feasibility studies to produce 700 megawatts of coal in the first phase,” he stated.

He also revealed that plans are far advanced to ensure coal generation of possibly 1,200 megawatts in the next phase.

Ghana’s worsening energy crisis has affected business operations across the country.

Reports indicate that the Komfo Anokye Hospital (KATH) spends about Ghc60, 000 daily on diesel to fuel its generators to power the facility.

Cold store owners at the Tema Harbour have also stated that the unreliable power supply in the country is gradually grinding their businesses to a halt.

There have been calls on government to improve the situation, but the challenge still persists.

The New Patriotic Party(NPP) has threatened to embark on a demonstration to express its displeasure with the current power crisis.

The party maintains that government was being insincere in relation to the power crisis.

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, the NPP’s General Secretary, Kwabena Agyepong said, “We believe that the John Mahama-led government is being insincere and misleading Ghanaians.”

“The actions and inactions of government have weakened the financial capacity of VRA. As we speak, Government, MMDAs and other institutions owe VRA up to the tune of over Ghc2 billion and we strongly believe it is the major contributor to what we are experiencing today in Ghana,” he added

The President has, however, stated that Ghana will soon come out of the energy crisis it is experiencing.

He said some key power plants in the country would soon be back on stream to compliment the ones in operation.