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Gas turbines for Ghana power station

Paul Boughton

Siemens has received an order from Ghana to supply three 8-MW SGT-300 and two 13-MW SGT-400 gas turbines for a 75-MW power station near the Ghanaian capital Accra.

During the last eighteen months, Ghana has been suffering repeatedly from breakdowns in power supply across the whole country.

Due to the continuing low water level in the Volta Dam, the hydro-electric power plant there has been unable to meet the country's constantly growing hunger for energy.

This project is part of a governmentally instituted programme of short-term and long-term measures to safeguard and boost the nation's energy sector requirements for accelerated growth. Within its frame, Atholl Energy Ghana Limited will construct a 320-megawatt turbopower plant valued at $200 million and sited at Takoradi in the Western Region. Funds for the project are to be provided by private commercial banks in London.

The project will take three years to complete and will be carried out in collaboration with Siemens Industrial Turbomachinery Ltd. of Lincoln, UK (SIT Ltd). SIT Ltd have already signed a contract with the Ministry of Energy to begin construction of the 75-MW plant to support the nation. The balance of power will be provided by steam turbines.

According to Craig Murray, Chairman of the Atholl Group, Ghana's economy is growing at an annual rate of 6 percent per annum with power demand increasing, particularly in the industrial sector. Industry is expected to consume 700MW annually in the near future.

The three SGT-300's were delivered in February. The SGT-400's are due for delivery later in the year. The first phase of the 75-MW project, to be sited in Tema, is expected to commence in February next year and will see the production of 25 MW by April 2008. The second phase of the project, scheduled for completion in September 2008, will generate the remaining 50 MW.

When completed, the dual-fuel gas turbines, (diesel and gas) are expected to be connected to the national grid.

Both projects will later be connected to the West Africa Gas pipeline, when it comes into operation, to source the it needs for its operations.

Siemens

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