AVERTING ANOTHER ENERGY CRISIS

IT is gratifying to note that the Akosombo Hydro-electric Generation Station has recovered tremendously well from its recent crisis and is now operating very efficiently.
That notwithstanding, the Daily Graphic believes that many Ghanaians will prefer displaying cautious optimism, if the past is anything to go by. We have emerged from a similar energy crises brimming with so much excitement and confidence as we proffered the options that would snuff out any future energy crisis.
But we have always ended up being caught pants down, slumping into another era of stark dark and sweaty nights. Indeed, the Plant Manager of the Hydro Generation Department of Akosombo, Mr Kwesi B. Amoako, sounded the alarm bells loud enough when he explained that the Akosombo Hydro-electric Generation Station could not really go full throttle, although it had the capacity to do so.
He said that was critical to forestall another energy crisis in the near future as the rains could be easily disappointing again. For many years, the Akosombo Hydro-electric Generation Station had been the major source of electricity for Ghanaians and its success and popularity, even in the sub-region, had been quite legendary.
After successive energy crises resulting from poor rainfall levels and the resultant low water level in the dam, the Daily Graphic wishes to emphasise the need to work towards exploring other more reliable sources of electricity. And we are, indeed, happy that the government has taken the necessary steps to get a second hydro-electric project — the Bui Dam — underway.
But as Mr Amoako pointed out, the policy being advocated by the Volta River Authority (VRA) was that hydro-electricity should complement electricity from thermal plants and generators, and not the other way round. Definitely that is a comparatively expensive choice that we must make, considering the surging price of crude oil, which is needed to drive thermal plants and generators, on the world market.
However, that appears to be the most prudent way out if we want to carry our destiny in our own hands and not leave it to a failing rainfall pattern, distorted with the help of global warming and climate change.
The dependence on thermal plants and generators will invariably mean that we would have to pay higher tariffs for electricity, as the price of crude oil soars. That may come as a challenge to many consumers and that is why we still need to commit a lot more resources into developing other sources of electricity like wind and solar energy.
These are options we have consistently discussed and found to be viable but it appears the will to pursue those options is agonisingly very limited. The Daily Graphic again wishes to highlight these options and challenge both the government and the private sector to do more to make wind and solar energy real options for Ghanaians.
For now, we may have to critically examine the tariff regime for electricity and find out how best the issues can be addressed in order to make electricity more accessible and affordable to Ghanaians.
The paper also wishes to advise consumers to adopt effective energy conservation methods in order to reduce the consumption rate and save costs. This is crucial and no one must sit on the bench.