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AfrElec NEWS IN BRIEF AfrElec
that the receivers of the electricity are not Mbakaou mini-hydro power plant (being built
developed enough to utilize all the power that in Adamaoua) that was initially planned to be
is given, which ends up being wasted, and delivered in 2020.
EXPORTS accounting for the financial loss from excess According to IED Invest, the 1.4 MW
power generated. (extensive to 2.8MW) power plant will supply
Ghana exports 250 to a cargo of crude oil. Unfortunately most eight villages in the northern part thanks to a
“Export of power is not like transporting
40km medium and low voltage network.
300MW of power to of these countries do not have developed and will help 1900 residents get connected
It is the result of a XAF4.5bn infrastructure
infrastructure as we have in Ghana.
neighbouring countries – d’ Ivoire and Burkina Faso, but when it gets to the national electricity grid within one
“So we export power to the border of Cote
year after its commissioning, the Rural
Amewu there, there is no demand for it and these are Electrification Agency (AER) indicates. The
some of the restraining factors.”
plant will also help ENEO with substantial
Ghana, according to the Minister-designate Although he was hopeful that Ghana could fuel costs because, with the construction of
for Railways, John Peter Amewu has achieved increase its power exports in the future, he the mini-hydropower plant, it will stop using
a major milestone in its history by exporting bemoaned the fact that the infrastructural thermal power to supply some of the northern
250 to 300 MW electricity to its neighbouring limitations of the receivers of this exported villages.
countries. power made it difficult to do so. According to Moussa Ousmanou, director-
Speaking before the Appointments “Ghana could increase its exports but general of the AER, with the construction of
Committee today, Mr Amewu indicated that the infrastructure is not developed in these that mini plant, ENEO will only use thermal
the country has generated enough power countries, so we are limited by the amount of power to supply the said regions during peak
to surpass the demands of citizens and is power that we can export that is why it comes hours.
currently exporting a significant number back to us as power being available and not “Without taking into account the increase
of megawatts of electricity to Ivory Coast, consumed.” in fuel prices or tariff indexation that will
Burkina Faso, Togo and Benin. inevitably occur during the 20 years when
“I am happy to announce to this House the mini-hydropower will be operational,
that for the first time in the history of this HYDRO annual profits will be XAF275mn in the first
country export arrangements are in excess year of operation (for sales of 3.4 GWh per
sometimes of about 250 to 300 megawatts Cameroon’s Mbakaou mini year) and will rise to XAF430mn yearly by the
being given to Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, end of the operational years. The cumulated
Benin and Republic of Togo,” he said. hydropower plant to be profit will be XAF7.8bn over the 20 years of
In 2019, government announced its plans operation,” he said.
to export electricity to Mali and Niger. delivered in June 2021, IED
The Akufo-Addo administration explained
that the two countries will join the West Invest says
African countries that were already benefiting
from Ghana’s energy to help improve the In an official document published on
socio-economic conditions of Ghana’s February 22, 2021, independent energy
neighbouring countries. electricity producer IED Invest Cameroon
The Hohoe MP, however, explained informs that in June 2021, it will deliver the
Week 08 25•February•2021 www. NEWSBASE .com P13