Ghana invites Indian players to set up power projects

Ghana is inviting Indian players to set up power projects, especially in solar and wind sectors, with the intention to become power surplus in next five years.
With a population of over 27 million, Ghana has an installed capacity of over 3,000 MW, and expects to increase it to more than 5,000 MW in the next five years, to become a power surplus country, Chairman of Energy Commission of Ghana, Kwame Ampofo, told PTI here today.
"We have an installed capacity of over 3,000 MW, out of which nearly 64 per cent is hydro-based while the rest is thermal.
"However, this capacity is not sufficient to meet the growing demand especially when the generation is much lower due to lack of availability of the fuel," he said.

Ampofo said the country wants to increase the capacity not only to meet the power demand, which grows at 12-14 per cent every year, but also to export electricity to neighbouring countries to accelerate growth and improve the GDP.
"We want to be a gateway for supplying power to neighbouring countries which do not have the resources to generate electricity. We want to give thrust on renewable sources for power generation, with solar photovoltaic and wind energy being the priority," he said.

Apart from this, small hydro plants and power generation from municipal waste is also on the priority list in which Ghana is seeking investments from India.

Ampofo further said: "India has expertise in solar and wind power generation. Bilateral trade between the two countries has been very strong. Indian firms investing in Ghana will not only have the advantage of supplying electricity in the country, but the power will also be exported. Thus there will be a win-win situation to both the countries."
Bilateral trade between the two countries stood at USD 1.2 billion in FY14.