Conference on power expansion in Africa underway in Accra
About 230 delegates from 33 countries have gathered in Accra to brainstorm and find solutions to the low electricity penetration in Africa.
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The delegates are attending a three-day power conference on the theme: “Harnessing energy, information technology for affordable electrification of Africa.”
The conference will also explore the emerging opportunities to leverage information, communication and technology (ICT) to build solutions for power systems across Africa.
It is being organised by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), Power and Energy Society (PES) and the Industrial Applications Society (IAS).
In a speech read on his behalf at the opening ceremony, the Minister of Energy, Mr Boakye Agyarko, said the conference theme was critical to the socio-economic development of Africa.
He underscored the need for increased access to reliable, affordable and sustainable power in Africa, which required dealing with the challenges in the power supply value chain, including utilising renewable energy.
Access to electricity
Touching on Ghana’s electrification system, Mr Agyarko told the delegates that access to electricity in Ghana currently stood at 84 per cent and that successive governments had worked to expand rural electrification to create jobs for the people.
The minister stated that the commitment by successive governments to expand rural electrification had kept the momentum to achieve a 100 per cent power coverage in Ghana.
Mr Agyarko urged African leaders to show commitment to drive Africa to achieve a high electricity penetration to help create jobs for the numerous unemployed youth.
He also encouraged participants to come out with practical solutions to the energy challenges confronting Africa.
ECG Director
The acting Director of Engineering at the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Mr Kwadwo Obeng, touted the impressive rate of electricity coverage in Ghana, although he admitted that there was room for improvement.
Apprising the delegates on the country’s installed capacity, he said as of 2011, Ghana had 2,750 megawatts and currently had 4,725 megawatts installed capacity.
He added that 40 per cent of the country relied on hydro and 60 per cent on thermal.
Mr Obeng, however, bemoaned the huge system losses in electricity generation in Africa and called for action to tackle the problem.
The director asked the participants to come out with ideas on how the continent could harness electricity to impact the lives of the people.
Earlier, the Vice President of PES, Dr Shay Bahramirad, who welcomed the delegates to Accra, expressed optimism that the delegates would come out with ideas to help improve the power situation in Africa.