The deferred deployment of three emergency Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) since 2019 has saved the country US$ 1.426 billion, Energy Minister, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh has stated.
According to him, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government has not cancelled any of the 40 PPAs entered into by the previous National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration during the four year era power crisis that bedeviled the nation but only deferred their deployment for further negotiation.
Speaking during the Minister’s of State press briefing series in Accra, the Energy Minister mentioned Early Power plant, Rotan power plant and Jacobsen power plant as the three deferred agreements which forms part of the current governments rationalisation agenda of the PPAs.
According to the Minister, government has through prudent management of the power sector also saved US $445 Million for the state.
The briefing which held under the topic Ensuring Reliable and Affordable Power within the Energy Sector” provided an opportunity for the Minister to explain ongoing upgrade works on the country’s power transmission lines to enhance the delivery of reliable power.
The Manhyia South gave updates on progress of work on the Pokuase Bulk Supply Point (BSP), the Kasoa BSP and Kumasi which are at different stages of completion.
The Energy Minister disclosed that the Ameri Power Plant will be moved to Kumasi to ensure the provision of stable power to the middle belt of the country.
Dr Opoku Prempeh noted with concern the many challenges in the power value-chain and blame it on what he describes as chronic’ underinvestment in the sector and stated that the intermittent power cuts consumers are experiencing was not due to financial challenges but as a result of reduced voltage attributable to old transmission cables.
The low investment he noted results in shortfalls and its attendant power challenges cyclically between every five to seven years.
He appealed to citizens to exercise patience and be supportive as government works to fix the problem by close of the year whiles’ assuring that central government is working with the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) to ensure payment of affordable electricity tariffs.
