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Taqa launches Ghana power plant project

Abu Dhabi, April 9, 2013

Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (Taqa) on Tuesday celebrated the ground-breaking ceremony of its new Takoradi 2 power plant expansion project in Ghana.

Once complete, the plant will account for approximately 15 per cent of Ghana’s generation capacity, providing power to more than a million people.

The ceremony was held at Takoradi in the presence of Ghanian President John Dramani Mahama, Minister of Energy of Ghana Emmanual Armah-Kofi Buah and Assistant Foreign Minister for Economic Affairs for the UAE Khalid Al-Ghaith

Addressing the gathering, Mahama said: "The Takoradi 2 expansion project reflects our energy for growth programme aimed at increasing investments in the energy sector to build capacity for the future. The role of independent power producers has become vital and the partnership of Taqa and VRA has demonstrated that Public-Private-Partnerships (PPP) work in Ghana."

"The plant’s excellent record of over 95 per cent availability since 2000 is not only a demonstration of the successful implementation of the PPP framework but also the significant development of technology capacity of Ghana," he added.

In his comments, Khalid Al-Ghaith said, "We are encouraging investments in Africa and will continue to back our sovereign companies such as Taqa. We look forward to strengthen the relationship between Ghana and UAE and look forward to seeing more official visits and further agreements."

Taqa CEO Carl Sheldon said the Takoradi 2 power plant expansion project builds on the company's position as a trusted operator of strategic energy infrastructure in Ghana.

"By deploying a world-class combined cycle turbine in Takoradi, we are helping Ghana to meet its growing energy needs while increasing the efficiency of the electricity generation system," he noted.

Taqa had acquired a 90 per cent share in the Takoradi 2 plant in 2007. The Volta River Authority (VRA), the main generator of electricity in Ghana, holds the remaining 10 per cent. Taqa is operator of the facility.

The Abu Dhabi firm had obtained Ghanaian government approvals last year and completed the project financing arrangements in January. The expansion, being built by Mitsui & Co (Japan) and Kepco E&C (Korea), is scheduled for commissioning in the fourth quarter of 2014.

Takoradi 2 is Taqa’s second expansion project in Africa following the $1.6 billion expansion of the company’s Jorf Lasfar power plant in Morocco.-TradeArabia News Service




Tags: abu dhabi | Taqa | Energy | Ghana |

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