Work on $33.5m BSP project begins at Pokuase
Work on a $33.5 million Bulk Supply Point (BSP) project has commenced at Pokuase, to ensure efficient power supply.
The BSP forms part of the $ 498.2 million Ghana Power Compact Two, funded by the United States Government through its Agency, the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).
It is being implemented and supervised by the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA), and when completed in 2021, it would supply power to Kwabenya, Legon and Nsawam communities.
In a speech read on his behalf at the ground breaking to kick-start the project at Pokuase, the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, said it was in line with the government’s objective of ensuring reliable supply of power to industries, so as to diversify the economy and help move Ghana beyond aid.
President Akufo-Addo said government has been working over the years to put in place measures that would improve the living conditions of people.
He indicated that “we have begun to work on the fundamentals of the economy, because we believe that an improved macro economy is the fundamental requirement for stimulating the investment we need for a significant expansion of the national economy”.
The President said the availability of affordable energy was crucial to the success of industrialisation such as the One District One Factory (1D1F) initiative.
He was optimistic that the project would strengthen power distribution in the country by reducing technical losses; a major problem confronting the key players in the power distribution sector.
“It is the expectation of government that consumers at all levels would benefit from an improved availability, good quality and reliability of electricity supply within the areas this project would serve,” President Akufo-Addo said.
He commended the United States Government for funding the projects that would help improve power supply.
Minister for Energy, Mr John Peter Amewu, said energy was the bedrock for the development of the country, and there was, therefore, the need to construct the BPS.
He said the construction of the sub-station was in line with the vision of the energy sector, which sought to develop an efficient energy system that would ensure, secure affordable and reliable supply of energy.
Mr Amewu called on the contractor, Elecnor S.A. of Spain, and SMEC International PTY Limited, the project engineers, to execute the project according to the right specification.
Professor Yaa Ntiamoa-Baidu, chairperson of the MiDA, said the Pokuase BSP project, was the fourth Bulk Supply Point in Accra, designated as A4BSP, and its associated 33kV and 11kV interconnecting lines, would help address power supply challenges, such as frequent outages and low voltages, resulting from increased power demand in Accra and the surrounding towns.
The project according to her, would also lead to a significant reduction in technical losses in the GRIDCO transmission system and the Power Distribution Service (PDS) thereby contributing to improving the financial viability of the utilities.
“The Pokuase BSP will be the first 330kV Bulk Supply Point in Accra, and the largest in Ghana, when completed. It would be developed under the existing 330kV Aboadze-Volta-Lome Transmission line at Pokuase and it shall have a total capacity of 580MVA, comprising four 330/34.5kV 145MVA power transformers,” Prof. Ntiamoa-Baidu said.
She said there were other infrastructural projects in the pipeline, which include seven Primary Sub-Stations, replete with their Interconnecting Circuits and Low Voltage Line Bifurcation Activities to cover the Accra East and Accra West Regions of PDS’s operations.
Mr Anthony Welcher, Vice President of MCC, said his outfit would continue to support Ghana in infrastructural development.
By Agnes Opoku Sarpong
