The republic of Korea has signed an agreement with the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) and the GS E&D and Samsung C&E of the Korean Republic to see through construction of a power transmission line from Prestea in the Western Region all the way to the Ashanti Regional capital in Kumasi, Ghana. The project is scheduled for completion within a period of 24 months.
This was revealed by the GRIDCo, CEO William Amuna, during the agreement signing ceremony in Accra, saying the power transmission line will ferry electricity from the new power plants being developed in Aboadze power enclave and distribute it to other parts of the country.
The US$67m deal comprises of a 330kv of power transmission network estimated to be of 185km in length, beginning from the Abaodze thermal power plant sited in the southern part of the country to the Bolgatanga in the north part of Ghana. The transmission line network will also pass through Prestea in the west to Kumasi in the central part of Ghana.
“We also intend having a very robust grid system. We have a 330kv line that goes from Aboadze to Tema. Now we are going to have this line that will go from Aboadze all the way to Kumasi. In future we intend linking Kumasi to Pokuase in Accra so that we have a triangle of 330kv network, and if we have that our grid system is going to be one of the most robust anywhere in the world,” addresses Mr. Amuna during the ceremony.
Mr. Amuna also observed that the GRIDCo power transmission line project will trim down the transmission line losses as well as advancing the system voltage stability.
“With this project we should be able to transport large volumes of power from southern Ghana to any part of Ghana, and this is going to aid rural electrification.” He said.
With about 76% penetration in terms of electricity, Ghana’s president indicated it should go to 80% in the next few years.
The government of the Republic of Korea via the Export-Import bank of Korea will provide a concessional loan for the power transmission project.
Also present at the signing ceremony was the Power Minister Dr. Kwabena Donkor, who expressed his gratitude to the Korean government and the consortium of investors for the longstanding relationship between the two countries. Ghana is also set to get the largest solar power plants in Nzema solar park project at the cost of US$400m.
