Construction of the main dam as part of the Bui Hydro Electric Power Project in the Brong Ahafo Region has started in earnest, after an initial delay caused by resettlement processes.
The project, being undertaken by Syno Hydro Corporation Limited of China, is expected to generate 400 megawatts (MW) of energy to supplement the country�s other hydro and thermal supplies.
Currently, the country generates 2,000MW of power from hydro and thermal sources which, according to experts, is far below the 5,000MW needed in the country.
According to the contractors, the construction of the dam is expected to be completed by 2011 for the entire project to be inaugurated in 2012.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Bui Power Authority (BPA), Mr Jabesh Amissah-Arthur, gave the update on the project when the Energy Minister, Dr Joe Oteng-Adjei, accompanied by some officials of the ministry, visited the project site last Tuesday.
The CEO said the final inauguration of the 400MW power project for it to become operational is scheduled for the first quarter of 2013.
The visit was to enable the minister to know at first-hand some of the challenges confronting the contractors and the workers and also the concerns of the affected communities, especially those who were yet to be resettled.
In his remarks, Dr Oteng-Adjei disclosed that the government had decided to construct four additional mini dams on rivers Ankobra, Pra, Tano and Oti to help solve the energy problems of the country.
He said a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Ghana and Brazil had already been signed to pave way for work to begin on the Juale Dam on the River Oti, which takes its source from the River Volta in the Upper East Region.
The minister gave the assurance that the government would execute work on all the hydropower projects in the country, which he said, were cheaper and more affordable sources of power for the country�s industrialisation.
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