The current energy crisis will ease drastically when the rains start in July, but the slightest delay could plunge Ghana into total darkness, the Volta River Authority (VRA) has warned.
According to the Planning and Business Development Officer of the VRA, Kofi Ellis, mid-year is a make-or-break moment for Ghana as the Akosombo and Kpong dams need the rain water to operate at a maximum capacity.
Speaking at a Joy FM’s Power Forum discussing the ‘Now’ solutions to Ghana’s three-year power crisis, Ellis said: “If we don’t economise [with the water levels]” before July, “then we are in serious trouble.”
The state-owned power distributor is giving out 12 hours of electricity and 24 hours without light to domestic consumers as the Akosombo and Bui dams struggle with low level of water while other thermal plants around the country have no fuel to power them.
The Akosombo can operate at a minimum water level of 240ft but the level currently is around 244ft. The Akosombo and Kpong dams can produce a total of 1800 megawatts but currently the two produce about 680 megawatts or less.
“We can go slightly below the minimum level of 240ft and we have done it before,” Ellis allayed fears.
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