Construction of Volta River Authority’s proposed 700 megawatt coal plant is expected to commence in April 2017, the Authority’s tentative project timeline has shown.
The coal plant, to be sited in the coastal town of Aboano in the Ekumfi district of the Central Region, is expected to augment current generation and help the largest power producer diversify its power generation portfolio to meet the growing energy demand.
Ben A. Sackey, Manager, Environment and Social Impact-VRA said: “Based on the project timelines, we expect to start construction on April 17, 2017. But that is also dependant on getting a permit from the Environmental Protection Agency. We are working closely with EPA to ensure that all the stringent environmental requirements are met.”
The coastal town of Aboano was selected as the ideal location after initial consideration of sites in Domunli, Akwidaa and Komenda purely on technical and economic bases, Mr. Sackey noted.
The coal power project is to be undertaken by the Volta River Authority (VRA) and its Chinese partner, Shenzhen Energy Group Co. Ltd. of China (SEC).
The China-Africa Development Fund (CADFund) is to provide an about-US$1.5billion long-term loan for the construction of two 350MW coal-fired plants to meet future power demand.
This represents the first phase of developing coal plants by the largest power producer, as it seeks to strengthen the country’s base load and forestall any future shortage of power when existing plants are due for mandatory maintenance.
The plant is to be further expanded either by 4×350MW (or 2×600MW) supercritical coal-fired generating units in the future, as demand is expected to continue increasing. The project includes the construction of a coal port solely dedicated to taking delivery of imported coal.
VRA and SEC, after a successful pre-feasibility study and design of the plant, have since served scoping notice to allow individuals, groups and organisations with special interest, concerns and expert knowledge on environmental impacts to furnish the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), VRA and SEC with it.
Why coal
Current electricity demand for the country currently stands at about 2,225MW. This is growing by 10 percent per annum and is expected to hit 7,000MW by 2030.
However, constraints on fuel sources for power generation — crude oil, gas and water for hydro power generation — have necessitated the need for exploring cost-effective, reliable, and clean power sources.
Given the current gas demand of about 450Mscf per day, indigenous gas and limited supply from the West Africa Gas Pipeline are unable to meet demand. Available indigenous gas is also expected to run out by 2036.
Coal, on the other hand, is available at a cheaper cost around the world. Advancements in coal power technology have also made it possible to generate clean power from coal.
Coal supply has also been secured from Glencore Xstrata of South Africa, which has about 30.2billion tonnes of reserves. The second coal supplier is Anglo America from Columbia, which has about 6.2billion tonnes of coal reserves.
There have however been calls by various civil society organisations such as the Ghana Youth Environmental Movement (GYEM) against the establishment of a coal plant due to environmental impacts of coal recorded in other parts of the world. They contend that coal plants have negative effects on the environment.
Green Peace International contends that: “Coal burning power stations continue to speed up global warming by filling the atmosphere with vast amounts of carbon dioxide. Coal burning leads to acid rain and smog, and emits more than 60 different hazardous air pollutants such as a variety of toxic metals, organic compounds, acid gases, sulphur, nitrogen, carbon dioxide and particulate matter”.
Mitigation measures
These concerns, VRA contends, are well addressed in the design and technology of the proposed coal plant. The VRA is proposing to use the latest clean-coal technology — super critical — in its first coal-plant.
“Domestic sewage water, coal waste water and oil wastewater will be treated separately, and then reused. Only circulating cooling sea water will be drained out of the plant. A thermal plume dispersion modelling is being undertaken to predict the permissible size of the mixing zone and the effect on sea. Effluent levels are to be monitored as part of the project monitoring plan,” Mr. Sackey said.
“We will conduct reasonable overall planning for the plant area; arrange high-noise equipment far from the area which is sensitive to noise; and reduce noise level by green-belt planting – that is planting arbor and shrubs on roadsides around the main powerhouse and nearby other sound sources as required, so as to reduce noise through the noise-reduction function of plants.
“The proposed power-plant sites are far away from the nearby villages; it is predicted that the contribution value of power-plant noise to the residential areas will be low, so power plant noise won’t disturb the local residents,” he added
Source: B&FT VRA’s coal plant to start April 2017
Construction of Volta River Authority’s proposed 700 megawatt coal plant is expected to commence in April 2017, the Authority’s tentative project timeline has shown.
The coal plant, to be sited in the coastal town of Aboano in the Ekumfi district of the Central Region, is expected to augment current generation and help the largest power producer diversify its power generation portfolio to meet the growing energy demand.
Ben A. Sackey, Manager, Environment and Social Impact-VRA said: “Based on the project timelines, we expect to start construction on April 17, 2017. But that is also dependant on getting a permit from the Environmental Protection Agency. We are working closely with EPA to ensure that all the stringent environmental requirements are met.”
The coastal town of Aboano was selected as the ideal location after initial consideration of sites in Domunli, Akwidaa and Komenda purely on technical and economic bases, Mr. Sackey noted.
The coal power project is to be undertaken by the Volta River Authority (VRA) and its Chinese partner, Shenzhen Energy Group Co. Ltd. of China (SEC).
The China-Africa Development Fund (CADFund) is to provide an about-US$1.5billion long-term loan for the construction of two 350MW coal-fired plants to meet future power demand.
This represents the first phase of developing coal plants by the largest power producer, as it seeks to strengthen the country’s base load and forestall any future shortage of power when existing plants are due for mandatory maintenance.
The plant is to be further expanded either by 4×350MW (or 2×600MW) supercritical coal-fired generating units in the future, as demand is expected to continue increasing. The project includes the construction of a coal port solely dedicated to taking delivery of imported coal.
VRA and SEC, after a successful pre-feasibility study and design of the plant, have since served scoping notice to allow individuals, groups and organisations with special interest, concerns and expert knowledge on environmental impacts to furnish the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), VRA and SEC with it.
Why coal
Current electricity demand for the country currently stands at about 2,225MW. This is growing by 10 percent per annum and is expected to hit 7,000MW by 2030.
However, constraints on fuel sources for power generation — crude oil, gas and water for hydro power generation — have necessitated the need for exploring cost-effective, reliable, and clean power sources.
Given the current gas demand of about 450Mscf per day, indigenous gas and limited supply from the West Africa Gas Pipeline are unable to meet demand. Available indigenous gas is also expected to run out by 2036.
Coal, on the other hand, is available at a cheaper cost around the world. Advancements in coal power technology have also made it possible to generate clean power from coal.
Coal supply has also been secured from Glencore Xstrata of South Africa, which has about 30.2billion tonnes of reserves. The second coal supplier is Anglo America from Columbia, which has about 6.2billion tonnes of coal reserves.
There have however been calls by various civil society organisations such as the Ghana Youth Environmental Movement (GYEM) against the establishment of a coal plant due to environmental impacts of coal recorded in other parts of the world. They contend that coal plants have negative effects on the environment.
Green Peace International contends that: “Coal burning power stations continue to speed up global warming by filling the atmosphere with vast amounts of carbon dioxide. Coal burning leads to acid rain and smog, and emits more than 60 different hazardous air pollutants such as a variety of toxic metals, organic compounds, acid gases, sulphur, nitrogen, carbon dioxide and particulate matter”.
Mitigation measures
These concerns, VRA contends, are well addressed in the design and technology of the proposed coal plant. The VRA is proposing to use the latest clean-coal technology — super critical — in its first coal-plant.
“Domestic sewage water, coal waste water and oil wastewater will be treated separately, and then reused. Only circulating cooling sea water will be drained out of the plant. A thermal plume dispersion modelling is being undertaken to predict the permissible size of the mixing zone and the effect on sea. Effluent levels are to be monitored as part of the project monitoring plan,” Mr. Sackey said.
“We will conduct reasonable overall planning for the plant area; arrange high-noise equipment far from the area which is sensitive to noise; and reduce noise level by green-belt planting – that is planting arbor and shrubs on roadsides around the main powerhouse and nearby other sound sources as required, so as to reduce noise through the noise-reduction function of plants.
“The proposed power-plant sites are far away from the nearby villages; it is predicted that the contribution value of power-plant noise to the residential areas will be low, so power plant noise won’t disturb the local residents,” he added
Source: B&FT Nana Konadu in love with Shatta Wale’s music
Former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings has described dancehall artiste Shatta Wale’s music as one which is enchanting for the youth.
Mrs. Rawlings is known for her love for music and dancing and her sense of fashion.
The NDP flagbearer recently spoke about her love for fashion, which has been admired by many in Ghana and across the continent, and mentioned her husband, Former President Jerry John Rawlings as one of her admirers.
Nana Konadu worked with Shatta Wale’s father for some years and has known the “Kakai” hitmaker since he was a child.
Speaking exclusively to TV3, the founder of the National Democratic Party said she knew Shatta Wale since he was little and knew his father too.
“I knew him when he was a little boy and I knew his father too so when they were saying Shatta Wale Shatta Wale, I asked myself who he was but I later got to know who he was.
“His music is enchanting for the young people and I like to encourage artisans, artistes and generally any young person who is into business and I encourage them so I called him to come over and we took pictures.”
The former first lady heaped praise on all other Ghanaian artistes, saying she loves and appreciates their music just as she does for Shatta Wale’s.
“I love them all and even Shatta Wale with his wild music which is still very catchy and I like Becca and all the others too.
“I appreciate music, unless the music is not so good, then I will say I don’t like it but I appreciate any type of music whether it’s classical, hip hop or Bisa Kdei.”
By Nana Afrane Asante|3news.com|Ghana
GHANASS gets new dormitory weeks after fire disaster
The girls’ dormitory of Ghana Senior High School (GHANASS) in the New Juabeng Municipal Assembly of the Eastern Region has been renovated by government, a few weeks after fire gutted it.
The renovation was conducted after some weeks of audit.
The girls’ dorm was razed down by fire on March 17, a disaster that displaced some first and second year students.
Most of the affected students had to go home.
But a fully refurbished dorm was handed to the school on behalf of government by Deputy Minister of Education Alex Kyeremeh on Wednesday.
Mr Kyeremeh expressed worry about fire disasters in senior high schools, calling for audit of some of these school buildings.
“We need audit in all our buildings so that we will be able to forestall future occurrences.”
Some of the students expressed happiness about the new building.
“It is so beautiful. It wasn’t like how it was. Now we can learn with much ease,” said Pearl Korantemaa.
Source: 3news.com|Ghana
EC not taken decision on persons who registered with NHIS
The Electoral Commission is yet to decide on the Supreme Court order of the removal of persons who registered with NHIS cards from the voters’ register, an official has said.
The Commission is, however, studying “the ruling in some detail,” Acting Director of Public Affairs Christian Owusu Parry said on TV3’s News 360 on Thursday, May 12, upon which a final decision will be made.
The Court on Thursday, May 5 ordered the Commission to expunge names of persons who registered with National Health Insurance Scheme cards in pursuant to an earlier ruling that struck out the presentation of the cards as identification for registration.
Mr Owusu Parry insisted that the Commission will make its position officially known when it is done studying the judgement.
“We are waiting until the Commission comes out officially on what is it is going to do with NHIS registrants on the national roll.”
The validity of the 2016 register has been questioned in some quarters especially by pressure group Let My Vote Count Alliance.
Claims have been made that the register is bloated and needed to be completely changed. The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) demanded a new register.
But the Commission has assured that there will be a clean register for the 2016 elections.
Source: 3news.com|Ghana
I’ve never taken bribe before – Mahama
Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama has described the fight against corruption in Ghana as “an uphill task” but insisted that his government has made significant efforts in winning that fight.
The president was speaking in an interview with the BBC on the sidelines of the on-going Anti-Corruption Summit in London. He said because of the exposure of acts of corruption, some people are accepting the perception of corruption as a reality.
The president said “one of the things about countries like Ghana is that creating the environment where people are able to speak freely about corruption, heightens the perception of corruption. So it might be that because of the environment in which corruption is discussed, people have the perception that there is an increase in the perception of corruption.”
President John Mahama however reiterated his call that persons who have evidence of corruption or suspect corrupt acts should report to the appropriate authorities to investigate.
He however added that the appropriate state institutions would prosecute every corruption case to the letter and bring those found culpable to book.
He also called for a collective effort from all and sundry to rid the country of persons who deliberately dent the image of Ghana through corruption.
“I’ve never taken bribe before”
President John Mahama in a separate interview on Focus on Africa categorically denied ever taking a bribe.
He was asked a direct question whether or not he had taken a bribe before in his life and the president said “any human being would have encountered corruption in one way or the other. What you need to do is to put yourself in a position to resist it.
“… No I’ve not taken a bribe before.”
By Martin Asiedu-Dartey|3news.com|Ghana
Twitter: @NewsyMartin
Be vigilant to escape NDC’s crude machinations – Sammy Awuku
National Youth Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Samuel Awuku has advised Ghanaians especially young ones to be wary of the tactics being used by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in canvassing for support.
Mr Awuku condemned the tactics as “dubious” and “fraudulent”.
In a statement released on Thursday, May 12, Sammy Awuku said the recent engagement of some students of the University of Ghana without their consent and the posting of John Mahama’s stickers on cars during the 2016 VGMA at the Accra International Conference Center (AICC) are evident that the NDC has lost the confidence of Ghanaians as a result of poor performance.
“It is instructive to note that, when the National Youth Wing of the NPP on April 27, 2016 decided to embark on a national sticker campaign, it did so in broad day light with the active support and participation of the general public unlike the shameful midnight act of the NDC on May 7, 2016,” the statement said.
Find full statement below:
HALT THE SHAMEFUL ACT
The National Youth Wing of the New Patriotic Party unreservedly condemns the crude and deceitful modus operandi adopted by President Mahama and his National Democratic Congress in sending its message across to the Ghanaian electorate ahead of the November Polls.
Whiles it remains highly indisputable that President Mahama on account of his numerous failed promises would go down in history as Ghana’s most ineffective and inefficient President of the fourth Republic, we find it as rather unfortunate and very disheartening, that the self acclaimed ‘youthful’ president and his agents would out of desperation resort to total deceit and clandestine moves to market themselves in a ‘constituency’ they so much took pride in few years ago.
We all recall how few days ago, the National Democratic Congress sanctioned some of its agents to pose as officials of the Electoral Commission to recruit unsuspecting students of the University of Ghana for an advert to further its cause.
For a party in government to resort to such dubious and fraudulent moves without recourse to the concerns of the persons involved is an apparent indication that, the National Democratic Congress has lost its sense of attraction among the youth of Ghana and can therefore not be considered as an option come November 2016.
Again on 7 May, 2016, citizens who attended the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA) at the Accra International Conference Centre became victims of yet another shameful conduct which was carried out by some ‘agents of darkness’ of the NDC. It is striking to note that, out of their desperation, these agents of darkness posted stickers of President John Mahama on vehicles of persons who by reason of their profession are required to be strictly non-partisan. By this shameless and irresponsible act, the NDC has set the stage for the general public to lose confidence in some institutions and personalities who are only victims of an irresponsible behaviour.
It is instructive to note that, when the National Youth Wing of the NPP on April 27, 2016 decided to embark on a national sticker campaign, it did so in broad day light with the active support and participation of the general public unlike the shameful midnight act of the NDC on May 7, 2016.
The Youth Wing of NPP is left in no doubt that the NDC out of its poor performance lacks the confidence to publicly engage the electorate, hence its covert operations.
We wish to admonish the teeming youth of our country who are eager and yearning for change to be constantly vigilant as a means of escaping NDC crude machinations.
Source: 3news.com|Ghana
MTN storms TV3 with 4G LTE
Workers of TV3 Network Limited had the privilege of being among the few subscribers of telecommunications giant, MTN to have been migrated onto the latter’s high-speed data – 4G LTE (Long-Term Evolution).
Though the product is yet-to-be launched, MTN moved its makeshift office to the premises of TV3 where workers took turn to have their SIM swapped with a 4G SIM on Thursday.
Their presence also afforded workers the opportunity to interact with staff of MTN about issues bothering them as well as letting them into some products of MTN including router and Mifi for internet connectivity.
MTN is the only telecom operator in Ghana with licence to rollout 4G LTE services to consumers having, won the 2x10MGHz band within the 800MGHz spectrum put on sale by the National Communications Authority in December 2015.
Franklin Sowah, Marketing Manager, Media Planning at MTN, early on told TV3 New Day, in its 20 years of operation, the company has been “leveraging ICT to bring national development”.
He assured subscribers the “4G network is what will bring a difference in our data experience as a people.”
At TV3, persons with 4G compatible devices were excited about the swap as they enjoyed a high-speed internet access.
MTN is expected to take the product to the banking industry and the corporate world in the coming days.
Story by Isaac Essel | tv3network.com | Ghana
YEN NSEM PA
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PPP to unveil Nduom as 2016 flagbearer in July
Dr Nduom, who led the party into the 2012 presidential elections, is said to have been the only member to have filed presidential nomination forms.
If confirmed, Dr Nduom will be running for president for a third time after 2008 and 2012.
He led the Convention People’s Party (CPP) into the 2008 elections but left the Nkrumahists to found PPP in 2012.
With the PPP, the former Member of Parliament and minister of state placed third out of eight candidates in the 2012 elections. He was third to John Dramani Mahama and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the winner and runner-up respectively.
Dr Nduom polled 64,362 representing 0.59 per cent in that election.
Addressing journalists in Accra, National Chairman of the PPP Nii Allotey Brew Hammond said the party will embark upon a rigorous campaign after the unveiling.
He said August, September and October will be the months of intense campaign for the PPP ahead of the elections, which are highly likely to be held on November 7.
By Emmanuel Kwame Amoh|3news.com|Ghana