By: Bright Ntramah
President Akufo-Addo has assured Ghanaians that the government will continue to work towards stable and reliable energy supply in spite of the global dynamics of energy pricing.
He said any country that aspires to industrialize, as part of its economic agenda, must ensure that its citizens have access to stable, efficient, affordable power supply.
President Akufo-Addo stated this when he inaugurated a 161kv Bulk Supply Point at Accra Central.
The 40-million-dollar project was Funded by JICA, and is part of efforts to expand the National Inter Connectivity Transmission System.
The Accra Central Bulk Supply Point is a Japan Funded project through its external technical agency, JICA. The Project was conceived following the decision to construct a BSP in proximity to the Accra Central business District. This is because electricity load in the Central Business District was growing at a rate higher than the system average of 10 percent per annum.
This is attributed to the modernisation of the city centre, increasing commercial and industrial activities and the new trend with reconstruction of single-story buildings into high rise buildings with high power demand.
ECG in collaboration with GRIDCO agreed to extend the 161KV grid to their primary station located at the Graphic Road in order to improve reliability of power supply and reduce losses.
The Country Representative of JICA Suziki Momoko, throws more light on the project.
The Minister of Energy, Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh, said the government has put in place enough measures to ensure stable power supply.
President Akufo-Addo noted that electricity is no longer a luxury and the Government will ensure universal coverage in order to spur on rapid rates of economic growth.
He said the execution of the Accra Central BSP project is consistent with the country’s power needs and development, with a GDP growth rate of up to fifteen percent around the time of project preparation.
The Bulk Supply Point is a gas insulated substation, which is GRIDCo’s first substation with such technology. This is an innovation in technology applied in areas where spaces are significantly limited, and large capacity switchgear and transformers cannot be installed.
The benefits of the Accra Central Bulk Supply Point are to reduce transmission and distribution losses, ensure high reliability of electricity supply, and ensure a high level of personnel safety.
