Once again, the water level remains dangerously low in the Akosombo dam, a situation which could force a shutdown and worsen Ghana’s erratic power supply.
Despite a flood-causing rainy season, the operating water level as of Tuesday was 4 feet above the minimum water level, and engineers are worried any drop below the figure will lead to a shutdown.
Chief Executive Officer of the Volta River Authority Isaac Kirk Kofi confirmed to Joy News and said measures have been taken by government to ensure the dam is not shut. He however describes the current situation as dire.
The worrisome level of water in the dam has been a trend at least for the past two years as the dam struggles to meet the minimum operating water level pegged at 240 feet.
The Minister of Energy Emmanuel Kofi Buah has had cause to call for prayers to save the situation.
The Akosombo Hydro Generating Station, the largest hydro installation in the country, generates 1020 Megawatts of power. Each of the installation’s six turbines generates 170MW of electricity.
Ghana gets 55% of its power from hydro and 44.4% from thermal. A fall in contribution from hydro only portends another wave of energy rationing.
The news of a shutdown comes as excitement builds ahead of the arrival of Ghana’s energy savior – gas. The cheap substance is expected to arrive by September, the Ghana Gas Company has said.
Government also believes a recent agreement with the United States for the release of over $450m under the Millennium Challenge Compact 2 will help address the challenges in the energy sector.
