Ambassador of France to Ghana, Anne-Sophie Avé has stated that the completion of the Kpong Retrofit Project will ensure affordable and uninterrupted electricity supply for people and businesses in the country.

She made this statement at the commissioning of the Kpong Power Plant Retrofit Project at Akuse in the Eastern Region by President Akufo-Addo.

The Kpong Retrofit project was carried out by the Volta River Authority and ANDRITZ HYDRO with the support of France and the European Union to provide safe, reliable and affordable uninterrupted electricity supply for people and businesses.

The upgrade will also provide uninterrupted carbon-free electricity that will in the process prevent approximately 400,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions a year.

According to the ambassador, the partnership between the Volta River Authority and the French Development Agency started in 1993.

“This is a 27 years happy marriage. Among many successful projects is this generating station that we are commissioning today. And this project is an example of long-lasting engagement with successive governments over the years. It proves the functioning democracy in Ghana were the National interest and word of the State is kept beyond whoever is in office," she said

"On this project, Ghana and France worked side-by-side with the same objective, to secure and develop the hydroelectric potential of Ghana and improve the important asset of this energy sector."

She commended the Volta River Authority and ANDRITZ HYDRO for their priceless expertise in the construction of the electricity generation station.

Kpong is the second-largest hydroelectric dam built in Ghana, and it covers about 12% of the country’s electricity production.

In July 2013, after an international competitive bidding process, ANDRITZ HYDRO signed a contract with Volta River Authority, a 100% state-owned public entity of Ghana, for the Kpong Retrofit project.

The contract covered the modernization of the entire hydropower station. ANDRITZ HYDRO would carry out the design, manufacturing, supply, erection, and testing as well the commissioning for the retrofit of electrical and mechanical equipment at HydroPower Plant (HPP) Kpong.

This comprises generators and excitation equipment, turbine and auxiliary equipment, governors, generator transformer, powerhouse station service facilities as well as hydromechanical equipment.

The main objective for the rehabilitation of HPP Kpong was to ensure continuous supply, improve service delivery and increase sustainable power generation with stabilized energy security.

The old equipment and auxiliary parts were upgraded and replaced with modern equipment to enhance efficiency and ensure a prolonged life for the plant.

Before the contract was signed, the plant was thoroughly inspected by ANDRITZ HYDRO specialists to ensure smooth and timely execution of the key elements.

In conclusion, the ambassador stated that the generation station will now ensure the supply of safe, reliable and uninterrupted electricity supply.

"The generating station has now extended capacity ready to supply another 30 years. That means uninterrupted electricity supply for people and businesses, safe, reliable and affordable electricity and therefore an asset for industrialization and jobs," she said.