Government has commenced the construction of the 161kV Anwomaso to Kumasi transmission line project to deal with low voltages in Kumasi and the Dunkwa mining enclave.

This follows the increase in power flow after the commissioning of a 330kV transmission line in Anwomaso resulting in the loading of existing line beyond its thermal limits.

With the upgrade, power supply to the region is expected to improve to enhance socio-economic development.

The European Union and French Government-sponsored project seeks to replace the existing single transmission line between Ahodwo and Anwomaso substations.

The new transmission line will be a double circuit twin-bundled transmission line of rated capacity to improve power transfer capacity between the two sub-stations.

Aside from improving local transmission, the new line will facilitate the export of power to Burkina Faso.

Acting Chief Executive of the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo), Ing. Mark Awuah Baah explains the impact of the new lines on power transmission.

“The project when completed will result in doubling the transmission capacity between Anwomaso and Ahodwo where we have the K1 substation and it will enable us to increase the transformation capacity at the Ahodwo substation to meet increasing demand in Kumasi and its environs. This will also impact positively on system losses,” he said.

The Ministry of Energy and Green Transmission has indicated efforts to improve the sector since the beginning of the year are yielding positive results.

Sector Minister, John Abdullai Jinapor, says it took the collaborative effort of stakeholders in the sector to attain the feat.

“When I assumed office, the deficit had widened to 750 megawatts so it meant that we could not export power and we could not meet domestic demand. I am happy to note that through collaborative efforts and with the team we assembled, the power sector today is much stable,” he added.

The project when completed is anticipated to improve the socio economic development of the Ashanti Region.

Co-Founders, the European Union and Agence Francaise de Developpement are anticipating the positive impact of the projects.