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without appropriately absorbing expert advice. Ghana’s Energy Commission has been GB/T. The choice of GB/T is very interesting,
“We believe the debt for equity swop idea promoting the adoption of electric vehicles, as there will probably be a lot of used EVs
has now become central to the Eskom political and it launched the Drive Electric Initiative in that will come to Ghana from China. 90% of
task team considerations. This is a blind alley, 2019. EVs can help take up some of Ghana’s vehicles imported into most African countries
however, we do not see it progressing. Still, the excess electricity generation capacity, as at are used vehicles.
attempt can cause major fallout risk.” the end of 2019, Ghana’s installed electricity POBAD will offer a Pay-As-You-Go EV
generation capacity was about 5 000MW charging service at residences, workplaces,
(MW), whereas the peak load was around public places, and along major highway
2,612 MW. Ghana moved from a deficit to locations. Payments for the charging sessions
CONTROL having excess generation capacity in a short are made via the use of either a POBAD
space of time due to a rush from Independent prepaid card, an authorized bank VISA/
Siemens and Hassan Allam Power Producers (IPPs) to address the deficit. Mastercard, or an approved mobile payment
app. POBAD also offers slow AC chargers.
A lot of these generators have “Take or Pay”
to build energy control clauses in their contracts, so Ghana has to pay POBAD also has an EV dealership service,
for electricity it doesn’t need at the moment.
offering both new and pre-owned EV models
centre in Egypt Ghana is paying over $500mn annually for on a fully paid or 12-month bank guaranteed
power generation capacity that is not being
payment plan option.
A consortium comprising Siemens used. POBAD is prioritizing the longer range
Smart Infrastructure and Hassan Allam It seems the push for the adoption of models of electric vehicle brands, and by
Construction has secured a contract from EVs is bearing fruit, as the Ghana EV scene coupling this with growing its charging
Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company is starting to get some significant traction. network, it hopes to ease the range anxiety
(EETC) to build the new National Energy Ghanaian startup SolarTaxi is offering the fears that a lot of consumers have of where to
Control Center. Cherry Tiggo 3xe 480 EV SUV, the 32 kWh charge next when traveling between cities and
Under the €45m contract, the consortium Dongfeng JunFeng ER30 SKIO EV, as well neighbouring towns
will be responsible for constructing a power as the 35.2 kWh JAC iEV7L. You can lease
grid control centre in the New Administrative these EVs in Ghana starting from $160 per
Capital of Egypt. month. Another startup, Accraine Ghana, is
The centre will monitor and control also supplying EVSE, EV accessories, and used HYDRO
extra-high voltage transmission networks and EVs imported from Europe.
power generation stations across Egypt with Now POBAD International wants to charge Vinci to build €388m dam in
advanced software and equipment. up this transition to electromobility. POBAD
Other technologies will be deployed at has entered into a partnership with the Senegal
the control centre to support future grid national power utility company, the Electricity
expansion while ensuring a secure energy Company of Ghana (ECG), to install EV A consortium led by France’s Vinci
supply. charging stations across Ghana. POBAD has Construction has signed a €388m contract
The new centre and the backup control installed EV charging stations at the A&C to build the Sambangalou hydropower
centre located in Giza will be equipped Mall in East Legon and Stanbic Heights Mall dam in Senegal for the Gambia River Basin
with Siemens Spectrum Power 7 platform in Accra. In the first phase of the project, Development Organisation, which involves
for transmission management in energy POBAD will install a total of 200 chargers four countries: The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-
networks. across southern Ghana. Bissau and Senegal.
The project is expected to be completed by PODAD will offer DC fast charging Located in southeast Senegal near the
the end of 2022. stations that support CCS, Chademo, and Guinean border, the 91m-high dam on the
Siemens Smart Infrastructure Digital Grid
CEO Sabine Erlinghagen said: “This new
control centre will enable Egypt’s power grid
to tick these boxes today, but will also adapt
to future changes when incorporating new
technology and energy sources.
“We are looking forward to supporting
the Ministry of Electricity and Renewable
Energy’s vision to further digitalise the energy
sector.”

ELECTRIC VEHICLES
Ghana’s ECG, POBAD

International to install EV

charging stations in Ghana

P14 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 49 10•December•2020