The Ghana Energy Commission has concluded and issued a provisional license to Aggreko plc to boost power generation in Ghana by putting up a power generating plant at Esiama, in Ellembelle District. The power plant is expected to generate between 40-50MW of power for a start and later augment its power production to 100MW for the next successive years.
The Scottish power producing firm has already signed a Gas Supply Agreement with the Ghana National Gas Company (GNGC) to supply the firm with gas required for the production of electricity for a period of 12 months. However, the power firm has also acquired a 27-acre of land at Esiama from the traditional authorities.
According to the Aggreko Head of Business Development in charge of Africa, Mr. Jason De Carteret, the firm is focused at increasing the overall power capacity of the country by the means of utilizing the excess natural gas resources coming through the Jubilee Oilfield via the Atuabo gas processing plant, a strategy which he described to be cost-effective for the nation. He also assured considerably compensation to the affected community member, land owners including the farmers whose properties had been affected by the project.
Presently, Aggreko operates more than 9GW of power plants in 32 countries across the world which includes Cote d’Ivoire, Mozambique, South Africa, Nigeria, Angola, Brazil, USA, France, and many other Asian and American countries. The firm supplies over 20,000 small, medium and large generators for utility firms, local businesses and mining companies as well as fast track independent power producing projects.
However, in reference to the Petroleum Minister and Member of Parliament for Esiama, Mr Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, the government had long partnered with the power generating company to invest towards the power generation capacity of the country and wipe out the power challenges in the country. The project is also expected to create employment opportunities and enhance the local economy.
