Kumasi: Mr. Kwame Kpekpena, the Acting Managing Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), has visited four major system upgrade projects in Kumasi to inspect the progress of work. The projects, initiated by the ECG to improve the quality supply of power to the Ashanti Region, include three sub-transmission lines.
According to Ghana News Agency, the projects comprise an upgrade of sub-transmission lines from Boadi to Kaase to Ridge Substation, and the construction of a new sub-transmission line from Airport roundabout to Anwomaso Substation. Additionally, the upgrade of a sub-transmission line from Neoplan to Barekese and the rehabilitation of the existing Bulk Supply Point (BSP) at the Ridge Substation in Kumasi are part of the initiative. The system upgrade is a proactive step by the ECG to ensure that power transmission systems in the region are in good shape to serve the current and future growing demand for electricity. The projects are expected to be completed by the end of this year.
Mr. Kpekpena was accompanied by some members of the management team from Accra and the Ashanti Region, along with selected journalists. He mentioned that one of the reasons for the implementation of the project was to reduce constraints in the transformer capacity and some links. 'We have constraints in transformer capacity and some of the links. So, we are not able to push the power we take from the transmission grid into the distribution network and our communities,' he explained. The upgrading is to ensure the easy and safe distribution of quality power supply from the transmission grid, the Acting Manager emphasized.
He noted that the existing sub-transmission line from Boadi to Kaase to the Ridge Substation is being upgraded from 265 square millimetres (sq.mm) to 400sqmm All Aluminium Conductor (AAC) at a cost of about USD6.8 million. He also disclosed that about USD10.5 million is being invested in the construction of a new sub-transmission line from the Airport roundabout to the Anwomaso Substation. Moreover, about USD400,000 per kilometre is being invested into the construction of approximately 16km sub-transmission line from Neoplan to Barekese.
Mr. Kpekpena stated that the costs of the construction of the sub-transmission lines could change due to some unexpected activities such as theft. 'Some of the underground cables which were upgraded at Emmina have been stolen by unknown individuals. This will negatively affect the cost of the project,' he said. He noted that the sub-transmission line being constructed from Neoplan to Barekese is mostly to ensure constant, safe, and quality power supply to the Barekese Dam site and other industries on that stretch. Constant energy supply to the Barekese Dam would foster the supply of good, treated water to citizens in the region.
Mr. Kpekpena disclosed that in addition to the upgrade of transmission systems, ECG is currently installing 65 new distribution lines (transformers) in the Ashanti Region. He said by the end of the year, the company is expected to have installed about 300 to 400 distribution lines to complement the upgrade of the transmission lines. Mr. Kpekpena assured citizens and their customers that the completion of the projects would improve the quality of power supply and minimize power outages in the region.