Ghana’s Bridge Power project is set to begin construction

May 08, 2017

Global energy solutions provider, GE has announced that it will be supplying the equipment that is required for work on the 400MW Bridge Power project in Tema, Ghana. According to the company the project will be implemented in two phases with the first 200MW expected to come on-stream by end of this year. Phase one of the project will see the installation of five gas turbines and one purpose built GE steam turbine capable of generating 200MW of power. Read more... The second phase of the project will see the installation of another batch of four gas turbines and one purpose-built GE steam turbine to add additional 200MW of power.

Bridge Power project

The Bridge Power project, which is funded by the EPL Consortium– made up of GE Power, Endeavor Energy, and Sage– can be powered by either LPG, natural gas, or diesel, media reported. According to Ghana News, GE's chief executive officer for sub-Saharan Africa, Leslie Nelson, said: “Our understanding of Ghana’s long-term vision for its power sector is built on having reasonably priced, reliable, and diversified energy. The Bridge Power project checks all those boxes.” “Moreover, the project has been specifically designed to switch to indigenous natural gas once available, which will help accelerate the development of Ghana’s natural gas reserves,” Nelson added. The project is expected to address the long-term energy requirements of the West African country and is anticipated will be providing over 17% of the country’s reliable generating capacity. It is reported that at present electricity demand for the country stands at about 2,225MW, which is growing by 10% per annum and is expected to hit 7,000MW by 2030.

Fuel supply challenges

Media noted that the project has taken into consideration the current fuel supply challenges and will ensure all-year-round supply of power from the generating facility when completed. “This strategy is designed to move the country’s power fleet away from expensive sources of fuel and to meet requirements of the government to provide to a model with lower cost fuels and with the risk of supply being borne by projects’ sponsors,” Nelson said. Media cited Nelson stating that the Bridge Power project is the first in Ghana to use a Put Call Option Agreement. “With this model, government would buy the plant and its associated infrastructure in the unlikely event of an early termination of the Power Purchase Agreement.  If the default is by EPL, the purchase price will be no more than 70% of the overall project cost,” he noted. *ESI-Africa