Dr John Abdulai Jinapor, Ghana’s Minister for Energy and Green Transition, has announced the imminent completion of works at the Akosombo control station, a crucial step in restoring the original power transmission arrangement between the Akosombo power station and Tema. This significant development follows a series of recent nationwide disruptions, primarily attributed to a trip in power transmission lines, raising concerns about the country’s overall transmission network reliability,” writes MyJoyOnline.
According to Dr Jinapor, the restoration is a direct response to the two major system disturbances recorded this month, specifically linked to a fire incident at the Akosombo switchyard. This incident prompted a temporary transmission arrangement, initially implemented to address the existing challenges,” the Minister explained. The current arrangement, he stated, has been a focal point of concern for the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) and has been associated with the two incidents.
Initially, the engineers considered shutting down the Akosombo power station until the control center could be fully restored, a process that could have taken approximately six months. However, Dr Jinapor emphasized that a different approach was adopted – establishing a temporary arrangement utilizing relays to transmit power directly from Akosombo to Tema – a solution deemed ‘more robust’ by the engineers. This temporary arrangement, he clarified, involved a series of steps, starting with the establishment of a temporary transmission arrangement.
The Minister underscored that the current arrangement is not robust, but given the circumstances, the temporary arrangement proved to be the most viable option. He noted that four of the six components required for the full restoration are already completed, representing a significant achievement. ‘We’ve already completed four,’ he stated, ‘and we’re left with two more to be finished next month,’ adding that the remaining two components are scheduled to be completed by the end of next month.
The Minister’s optimism is tempered by the fact that the restoration process is designed to revert to the original configuration and improve the system’s resilience. He emphasized that the original arrangement will be utilized going forward, with the potential for the system to function in its original configuration.
This initiative represents a key element in bolstering Ghana’s energy security and addressing the concerns surrounding the reliability of the national power grid. The work at the Akosombo control station is expected to have a substantial impact on the country’s energy supply,” MyJoyOnline notes. The Grid Company Limited is actively working to ensure the seamless transition to the restored system, with the Minister’s assurance that this is a critical step in stabilizing the grid and preventing further disruptions.
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Source: MyJoyOnline
