July is make-or-break month for energy crisis


July will be a make-or-break month for Ghana’s energy crisis and consumers will have to brace for the worst or heave a huge sigh of relief if it rains quickly enough.

This conclusion was contained in an analysis presented by VRA’s Planning and Business Development Officer, Kofi Ellis at Joy FM’s Power Forum discussing the ‘Now’ solutions to Ghana’s three-year power crisis.

The minimum water level needed for Akosombo Dam to produce power is 240ft but the level hovers dangerously around 244ft.

Already this low level has forced two of the six turbines to shut down and left the four other turbines generating 135 megawatts instead of 170megawatts at maximum capacity.

“If we don’t economize [with the water levels]” and July rains delay, “then we are in serious trouble”, Kofi Ellis explained to a packed audience on Wednesday at the Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT.

In total Akosombo is giving us 540megawatts. It has seen better days when it was producing 1,020megawatts.

But it could see even its worse days if the rainy season usually in July is delayed. Energy Minister Emmanuel Kofi-Buah said last year, Ghanaians should start praying for rains.

He said with Ghana’s total energy demand standing at 2100 as compared to its generation capacity of 2800, Ghana ought not to have been in this situation.

He was however quick to add that failure of some of the sources of energy to produce at maximum capacity, means the country will suffer a while longer.

More soon Story by Ghana|Myjoyonline|Edwin Appiah|[email protected]


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