Appolonia City of Light, a mixed-use urban developing area near Accra, has commissioned its first power substation, which will serve the first 4,000 residents at the project.
The privately funded substation, which is specially designed to withstand heavy rains and flooding, is one of the first of its kind in north of Accra.
The substation’s 20/26MW power transformer was manufactured in India by Crompton Greaves Limited and designed in collaboration with the Electricity Company of Ghana, a unique demonstration of a private sector-led expenditure in close co-operation with a Ghanaian public utility.
Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, praised the innovation of Appolonia and its lead investor Rendeavour in finding solutions to the electricity needs of the project.
“Such a project certainly requires efficient supply of power. Rendeavor had the foresight to secure its own substation to fast track power access and that is a mark of a good and a visionary developer that realizes the value it is seeking from its project,” he said.
“I take this opportunity to encourage all land developers to emulate Rendeavor and Appolonia’s example to ensure ease of power access to their projects as well as for the benefit of the communities in which they are operating,” he added.
Mr Akandoh emphasised the importance of the private sector to national development and urged investors to explore ways of ensuring that they met their core business mandate.
Mr Frank Mosier, Rendeavour Board Director and lead U.S. investor in Appolonia, highlighted the co-operation between all stakeholders: “What we see today is testament to partnership. This important investment has only been possible through close co-ordination between the Ghanaian government, our partners in the community and the private sector.”
“We look forward to continued relationships with all Appolonia stakeholders related to Appolonia and welcome further involvement from the private sector in achieving further development at the site,” Mr Mosier added.
Mr Anthony Okyere, the Chief Executive Officer of Appolonia, noted that the station would deliver power to more than 15,000 people and 4,000 homes within five years, and nearly 90,000 people in total, over 15 years.
He said aside residents; the substation would also serve commercial areas at Appolonia, such as retail, schools and health facilities.
"After working with the Electricity Company of Ghana and Crompton Greaves Limited, we are proud that the first of the three power substations has been acquired, installed and readied to supply electricity to Appolonia. Concluding this important step is proof of our commitment to this project,” he added.
Appolonia City of Light, a partnership between Rendeavour, the leading urban land developer and local communities, is a fully master planned, mixed-use and mixed-income urban development in the Greater Accra Metropolitan area.
The project will be developed for residential properties, retail and other commercial centres, as well as schools, healthcare and other social infrastructure.
All local and national regulatory approvals have been met and a full land title certificate has been granted.
In April 2015, sales of the ‘Buy and Build’ residential development, Nova Ridge, were launched, with The Oxford housing development offering ready built homes coming online in April 2016.
Appolonia offers Ghanaians an opportunity to live in a master-planned environment with close access to Accra.
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