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AfrElec INVESTMENT AfrElec
AfDB provides $27.39mn
grant to support Ghana’s
development of mini-grids
GHANA GHANA is a beneficiary of a $27.39mn African economic transformation,” said Eyerusalem
Development Bank (AfDB) grant for the devel- Fasika, AfDB country manager for Ghana.
opment of a mini-grid and solar photovoltaic “It has the potential to create jobs, fundamen-
(PV) net metering project, which should gener- tally expand access to businesses and bring pros-
ate 111,361 MWh of electricity, corresponding to perity to Ghanaians.”
an installed capacity of 67.5MW of power. The project is expected to mitigate green-
The project will include the development of house gas (GHG) emissions of 0.78mn tonnes
35 mini-grids, standalone solar PV systems in of CO2 equivalent per year, while creating up
400 schools, 200 units in healthcare centres and to 2,865 jobs during construction, out of which
100 units for community energy service cen- 30% will target women and youth.
tres in the Volta region, the AfDB said in a press In view of the numerous challenges that the
release on February 1. energy sector of Ghana has suffered, including
It would also involve the deployment of the erratic power supply which has affected
12,000 units of roof-mounted net-metered solar many businesses, consequently hitting the econ-
PV systems for public institutions, small and omy, there have been several renewable energy
medium-sized companies (SMEs) and some interventions to address the menace.
selected households. The drive to renewable energy comes with the
“The project will support Ghana’s COVID- belief of curbing the threat of climate change as
19 Alleviation and Revitalisation of Enterprises well as being an impetus to drive a healthy eco-
Support (Ghana CARES) programme, which nomic growth.
identifies the energy sector as an enabler of
Volta River Authority
completes 75MW wind
farm feasibility study
GHANA GHANA’S Volta River Authority (VRA) has sustainable sources of energy, mainly hydro and
completed a two-year feasibility study for the natural gas, liquified petroleum products and
construction of a wind farm in Ada, in the renewables.
Greater Accra region, that would generate about The VRA and operates a total installed elec-
75MW of power, Graphic Online reports. tricity generation capacity of 2,519MW. The two
The VRA is a state-owned body with the main hydro plants, Akosombo and Kpong gen-
mandate to generate, transmit and distribute erating stations, both located on the Volta River
electricity. Its deputy chief executive in charge have 1,020MW and 160MW, respectively.
of finance, Dr Ebenezer Tagoe, said the process These are complemented by a 2.5MW Solar
of securing financing is underway and the con- PV Plant at Navrongo in the Upper East Region
struction should soon follow. and a 6.5MW Solar PV Plant at Lawra in the
The wind farm is part of VRA’s diversifica- Upper West Region.
tion agenda to take advantage of available and
Week 05 03•February•2022 www. NEWSBASE .com P9
