Abu Dhabi Investors Heed Prez�s Call �

Barely a week after President Mahama, the Minister of Energy and Petroleum and some energy experts in the country paid a two-day working visit to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), investors from the gulf country are already thronging into the country to invest, especially in the energy sector.

Notable among these investors is the Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC (TAQA) which has disclosed its intention to construct a hybrid 350 megawatts and a 110 cubic meters plant in Aboadze in the Western Region to improve the energy, water and sanitation situation in the country.

Speaking at the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum where they paid a courtesy call on the Minister to make a presentation on how they intend to run the Independent Water and Power Production Plant, Nana Osafo Adjei Chief Executive of Takoradi International Company (TICO), local representative of TAQA said the company has partnered VRA and government over the last 11yrs to improve power generation in the country.

Nana Osafo Agyei said their meeting with President Mahama and his entourage in Abu Dhabi gave credence to the partnership between Abu Dhabi National Energy Company and the government of Ghana, hence their decision in increase investments in the country and also broaden their scope to cover the water and sanitation.

�The management of TAQA is interested in partnering the Government of Ghana and its respective agencies in power and water sectors to develop additional capacity to the tune of 350MW which will involve both water and electricity�. He added.

Minister of Energy and Petroleum Hon Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah lauded TAQA for their prompt response to the President�s call, saying it shows their commitment to impacting positively on the Ghanaian economy.

Hon Buah described TAQA as a pioneer in Independent Power Production in Ghana, having built the T2 Plant which is one of the country�s first Independent Power Projects which opened the way for other private investors to also invest in IPP.

�The Ministry of Energy and Petroleum and the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing will jointly work with you and make sure the necessary support is given to ensure timely completion of this important project. Hon Buah further assured.

Present were representatives of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCO) and some management members of Sojitz, a Japanese company which will help TAQA in the construction of the plant.

Source: Peacefmonline.com