AFRICANEWS

Ghana

Hydro power sources whittles

The country is facing an energy crisis. The high demand for sufficient electricity for domestic and industrial use coupled by insufficient rainfall have been cited as the root causes of this crisis.

Shopping for affordable generating sets is the fahion in Ghana today for those who can afford them. But for the greater majority of Ghanaians, the routine is to check on the prices of every device ranging from lanterns to bush-lamps. Business, no doubt, is thriving for petty traders who hawk batteries, candles and bushlamps. "Over the past two weeks, I have been able to record a 200 per cent increase in sales of batteries," says Mr. Kwame Anamuah, a petty trader.

Some British firms conscious of the desperation of Ghanaians have also joined the fray. They have placed adverts in the local media advertising their brand of generators for these service providers, it is an avenue to fill in the desperation of Ghanaians who are experiencing an energy crisis, the impact of which has been very severe especially on industry resulting in some lay-offs of workers.

Since January, this year, Ghana has suffered not just an unusually hot temperature but frequent power cuts, making conditions quite unbearable for the people.

A nation-wide power rationing exercise is under way. Under the exercise, half the country receives power for 24 hours while the other awaits its turn. In some parts of the country, the rationing is not well coordinated and power stays or there is intermittent cuts. The objective of the exercise is to address the huge electricity supply deficit.

Lack of rainfall in the catchment area of the Volta lake which feeds Ghana's hydro-electric power stations, the Akosombo and Kpong dams, has been the cause of the problem coupled with a rising demand for power especially in the urban areas until recently, most Ghanaians who use electricity saw the Akosombo and Kpong generating stations, commissioned in 1965 and 1982 respectively, as sources of uninterruptible power.

Memories still linger here of the unprecedented drought of 1983/84 which compelled the rationing of electricity and other services. The dams were not fed with the needed water inflow.

In 1994, a similar rationing exercise was undertaken after the dams again experienced low rainfall, in between these periods, there has been the interplay of floods and drought but this year has been the most severe. The present water level of the Volta lake, according to the Volta River Authority (VRA), the statutory power generating body, is 240 feet, eight feet below the previous level of 280 feet.

As a result of the low level of the lake, the VRA is generating power from only three out of its six turbines at the station, the maximum operating level is 278 feet.

"Our country is facing an energy crisis, there is no doubt about it," admits Mr. Fred Ohenekena, Mines and Energy minister. He believes that part of the problem has to do with the fact that the VRA does not have enough funds to meet replacement and maintenance costs.

Last year, attempts by the government to hike the price of electricity received a jolt after Ghanaians kicked against it.

Hydro sources alone account for 3,800 gigawatt (gwh) while a recently commissioned thermal plant, accounts for 1,800 gigawatt (gwh). The total output of 5,600 gwh from both sources is nowhere near sufficient to meet in full, the estimated demand of 8,100 gwh including contractual obligations to Togo, Benin and the US-operated VALCO aluminium smelter in Ghana, which is the largest domestic consumer.

The domestic demand for electricity has been growing between 12-15 per cent and the growth is at a pace which makes additional generating capacity urgent.

In 1987, the government announced a 30-year plan for a rural electrification programme, the programme is on course and to date, a number of rural communities have been hooked on to the national grid.

The government, however, says the present crisis has very little to do with the rural electrification programme.

Never before has the country experienced a very severe situation like this, it has now been compelled to import electricity from Cote d'voire to supplement its demand. It even plans to reduce supply to Togo and Benin.

This is the price that Ghanaians would have to pay for ignoring the slings and arrows of the weather and to plan ahead for the future.

The effect has been frightening - former Education Minister, Dr. Ben Abdallah, sustained serious injuries when a generator he was trying to start exploded. He has since been hospitalised, a pensioner had his building completely burnt when the petrol he was using for his generator caught fire in Kumasi, Ghana's second largest city, a candle left overnight by a young woman completely burnt a house. The list is long on the industrial front, VALCO, unable to contain the situation has laid off 265 workers out of a work force of 2,500 and is contemplating laying off 500 workers in March. Other firms in food processing and steel works have given an indication that they have to shed off some labour.

The energy is coming at a time when in line with the government's investment drive, more companies are being established or are expanding Dr. Eric Kwei, Managing Director of Pioneer Food Cannery, a food processing company describes the situation as, "very despressing".

The industries, which are already facing stiff competition from foreign imports are now crying out for help as the energy crisis deepens Several industries have been plunged into darkness for days on end - there tension and panic.

In the wake of this, the government has announced new measures to bail the country out of its present predicament duties and sales tax on solar cells and panels have been waived to encourage investment in the solar energy sector.

Ironic as this may be, Ghana which is located in a favourable position to receive large quantities of solar energy has not given this the due attention.

Now the government wants to act. "Indeed, it is the policy of the government to promote the wide application of energy systems such as solar to complement conventional energy sources," says Mr. Ohene-kena. Government priorities now, he says, have been focused on health institutions, sensitive installations and above all industries."We are doing everything possible to ensure that industry does not suffer unduly," he adds, stressing that, "the effect on industry, on employment and on investment is what represents the real crisis facing us as a nation".

The precarious situation cannot be lost on Ghanaians. A national appeal to conserve energy is being heeded to Radio stations have even joined the crusade to cut down their hour of transmission in offices coacervation measures are underway in the homes. Ghanaians have been asked to cut down their consumption by 30 per cent. The rains are expected probably in May but already prayers are being said for the nation by religious groups to enable the rains to come early enough to save the dams. "The social inconveniences notwithstanding, we are prepared to heed the call to save our hydro-electric station," says Pastor James Anane who together with his small congregation of worshippers in Accra continue to pray for the nation.

He is not alone in this indeed, all Ghanaians are.

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