BPA requires US $ 4.6 million for maintenance of Bui dam | General news

The Bui hydroelectric dam is currently undergoing major maintenance since the 400-megawatt electricity generating plant in Bui, Banda District, Bono Region. started in 2014.

According to the Bui Power Authority (BPA) facility manager, maintenance required $ 4.6 million US to perform inspection, cleaning and replacement of spare parts, which would take about three months.

Part of this amount would also be used for the training of engineers at the dam site.

Engineers working on the facility shut down and dismantled one of the three units due to "spring and ring failure", a situation that was affecting the proper operation of the turbine.

Mr. Kyere, the dam operations manager, told reporters during his visit to the power plant on Wednesday that the site is currently producing 200 megawatts instead of 400 megawatts.

Nevertheless, Mr Kyere added that the dam could produce the necessary energy to continue supporting and stabilizing the tension at the national level.

Mr. Ebo Amoah, director of the factory and head of the engineering team who led the reporters around the dam, explained that the dam was undergoing major maintenance every five years. except for minor interviews done each year.

He expressed concern over delays in releasing funds for continued maintenance, saying that BPA should order and import spare parts from China to repair the units.

Amoah said the three units would be closed down, dismantled and thoroughly inspected and cleaned up, and called on the government to release funds in time for the national property to operate at full capacity.

The Bui hydroelectric project was designed primarily for hydroelectric power generation.

He did however include; the development of an irrigation system for agricultural purposes and presented an opportunity for the improvement of the eco-system and fisheries.

It also included a resettlement and community badistance program.

The project, which is expected to cost about US $ 622 million, was financed by a concessionary loan of US $ 263.5 million from China, a US $ 298.5 million export credit from EXIM Bank of China and a US $ 60 million government contribution. from Ghana.

However, it recorded a funding gap of US $ 168 million, mainly as a result of the unexpected effects of the 2008 global financial turmoil as well as unanticipated critical work.