Hydro studies on three rivers updated (back page)

Story: Lucy Adoma Yeboah (Wednesday, July 23, 2008)
STUDIES on three rivers earmarked for the construction of additional hydro dams in Ghana have been updated for the execution of the projects.
The three rivers, which lie in the south-western part of the country, are the Pra, Ankobra and Tano.
The latest work was done by a Ghanaian consultancy firm, Supercare Group Limited, and Coyner et Bellier, a French company that deals in hydro projects.
The purpose of the recent work, which was completed in March, this year, was for the two companies to update a number of feasibility studies that had previously been conducted by different companies since 1960.
The purpose of the study was to determine the current estimate of the volume of energy to be generated from the dams and the cost involved in the projects.
The study also had the additional objective of preparing what it termed “a bankable” project document suitable for raising funds for the implementation of the projects.
Three separate reports, each titled “Update of Engineering Studies - Hydroelectric Development” and covering each of the three rivers, have been presented to some stakeholders including the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning.
Various issues handled in the report were geology, hydrology, energy generation, preliminary environmental assessment, design of work and also implementation of the project.
Early January, this year, the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, inspected the potential sites together with Mr William Oppong Bio, the Executive Chairman of Supercare Group Limited, the local representative of Sinohydro Company of China, and Mr Liu Aisheng, an engineer with the company who is working on the Bui Dam project in the Tain District of the Brong Ahafo Region.
The team visited the site along the River Pra at Assin Awisa in the Twifu Hemang Lower Denkyira District in the Central Region and Sekyere Heman in the ??Mporhor?? Wassa East District in the Western Region.
The minister and his entourage also inspected other sites along the River Ankobra at Ajomoro Ashiem in the Nzema East District and the Tano River at Tanoso near Elubo in the Jomoro District both in the Western Region.
The construction of the mini dams was mentioned in the 2008 budget statement, as well as the President’s New Year Message on January 1, 2008.