GRIDCo: Power Demand Hits 3,469 MW

The Ghana Grid Company Limited says on March 8, 2022, it recorded a maximum demand in power at a record of 3,469 MW, the highest this year.

It anticipates that demand will further increase to 3,545.27 MW by the end of 2022.

It is reported that Ghana’s maximum demand in the year 2021 was 3,246MW.

Speaking at a presser on June 6, 2022, Chief Executive Officer of GRIDCo, Engineer Ebenezer Essienyi said that “for the first time on Saturday we recorded demand in excess of 3,300MW. It’s an indication of the potential for our demand to grow.“

He added that the demand for power has a direct correlation with the country’s economic growth.

Operational Challenges
Ing. Essienyi lamented the Overgrowth of plants, encroachment by traders, and Galamsey activities under or near transmission lines which he says add up to the cost and impair their reliability of supply.

“Our lines that leave Western Region must go towards the Ashanti Region and continue to the North. From Western towards Ashanti is a whole thick forest but the lines must find a way to go so the undergrowths need to be cleared so that the lines don’t touch the trees to create disturbances for us.

“…Those who encroach on our Right-of-Way and stay under the lines either to do business or their houses. It’s a challenge for us. It is extremely dangerous and we need to bring ourselves to mind the dangers when we stay there. The risk associated with a tower collapsing or the conductor falling.

“Galamsey knows no bounds. They go all the way chasing the resources that they want and forgetting the point that the towers that are there are for our collective good.”

Dealing With Challenges

Ing Essienyi said a task force has been instituted to deal with encroachment and the various challenges.

“Based on the enormous challenges we are having with our Right-of-Way, we’ve set up the right-of-way taskforce under the Director-Technical Services where we equip three teams to monitor our right-of-ways.”

He disclosed that one team will be in the Ashanti Region to supervise the Right-of-Way in Kumasi, Obuasi and the Northern sector while the second team will be in Western Region for Tarkwa, New Tarkwa, Cape Coast, and Winneba with the last team in Tema to supervise the Greater Accra, Volta region substations, Kedjebi and others.

Additionally, he said GRIDCo will need drones to conduct frequent Inspections on transmission lines.

Transmissions Constraints
The GRIDCo CEO reiterated that transmission lines in the Western corridor, Coastal Corridor, Eastern Corridor, and Middle Corridor are worn out.

“They have contributed significantly to our losses because they are old but carry a lot of power. We need to replace or reconstruct them”, he said.

Additionally, he pointed out radial lines as another challenge in the transmission of power.

“Another issue that we need to address has to do with radial lines. Normally consumers must be supplied from two sources so that if one goes off, the other will be available to maintain the supply. We have lines that are radial in nature and therefore when they go off, we need to work on them. Consumers must be off (stay without power) for the period when we are working.

Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini