The Takoradi International Company (TICO) has initiated preparatory works to install additional 110 MW steam turbine required to convert their current system at Aboadze into a combined cycle plant, increasing the total capacity from 220 MW to 330 MW. It is expected that the expansion works will be completed by 2012 which is in line with Government’s vision of ensuring secure and reliable supply of High Quality Energy. This was announced by Nana Osafo Agyei, the General Manager for Takoradi International Company (TICO) at a symposium organized in Takoradi as part of the Company’s 10 Anniversary Celebration, under the Theme, “Delivering Quality Electricity Supply: The Role of the Private Operator.” “With over 12 % of total generating capacity in Ghana, TICO has over the years generated electricity at an availability rate of 95% at average capacity of 47%,” he said. TICO has over the past 10 years however, delivered an average of over 15% of the country’s overall generating capacity, resulting in a total export of 9,165,254 MW hours of energy. At the Aboadze Complex which is the Thermal electricity hub of Ghana, TICO provides 220MW representing 50% of total capacity of the current 550MW, Nana Osafo Agyei added. The Takoradi International Company is a joint venture between Abu Dhabi National Energy Company TAQA of UAE with 90% holding interest and the Volta River Authority (VRA) of Ghana with 10% holding interest. Speaking at the Symposium the Deputy Minister of Energy Hon Armah Kofi Buah lauded TICO’s plans to increase installed capacity to 330MW saying, the move will help government to meet the National Energy Policy projections from the current 2000MW to 5000MW by 2015. He said when the policy targets are attained; national electricity access will increase from the current level of 66% to universal access by 2020. The Deputy Minister said that the policy document however confirms that the challenge is how to attract investment to build the necessary infrastructure for the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity throughout the country. “The Country needs a whooping 3 billion dollars to increase the generating capacity alone,” Hon. Armah Kofi Buah added. He called on the Private Sector and other Independent Power Producers to emulate the efforts of TICO by investing in the county’s electricity generating capacity to sustain economic growth. Renowned Investment and Economic Analyst Mr. Kwame Pianim who chaired the Symposium said there is a need for Ghanaians to readjust their view of foreign investors and rebrand the nation as a safe destination for investments. He called for a review of current practice of cross subsidization where commercial and industrial users subsidize domestic users of electricity. “It is not surprising that while China use less than around 15% of its electricity supply for domestic applications, in Ghana domestic use amounts to almost 50% do we have factories in our homes in Ghana? Mr. Kwame Pianim asked. He challenged Ghanaians to conserve electricity both as commercial and domestic users. Story by Kweku Owusu Peprah/Radio Max