Global technology powerhouse Siemens has announced further significant investment in gas and steam energy generation projects in Ghana over the next three to five years.

One of the world’s largest energy, industrial and infrastructure companies, Siemens will roll out a series of projects, including new gas and steam turbines contributing hundreds of megawatts to the national power grid in Ghana.    

At a VIP event held in Accra, Siemens Southern and Eastern Africa CEO, Sabine Dall’Omo, said the global company was committed to assisting Ghana in meeting the country’s expanding energy needs.

“We have identified Ghana as one of our key countries and our further investment is aimed at helping the country reach its economic goals and secure it as a serious contender on the African continent,” Dall’Omo said.

The event was attended by Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, Ghana’s Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry.

With a current power generation capacity of 2936 MW, Ghana requires significant further energy investment.

Hydropower is by far the largest contributor to the country’s energy supply at 1580 MW, and the Ghanaian government aims to increase overall capacity to 5000 MW through harnessing renewable energy projects in the future.   

Partnering with local companies to meet local power needs- one of such project is for ENI in Sanzule where Siemens has been contracted to deliver two gas compression packages for its onshore receiving facility.

In this instance, Siemens has entered into a joint venture with local company Draper Oil and Gas Limited to form Siemens Oil and Gas.

“Siemens is committed to collaborating with Ghanaian companies to ensure improved energy availability, building of local expertise as well as economic growth through job creation,” Dall’Omo said.

Other flagship projects being undertaken by Siemens includes the rolling out a steam turbine project with Group 5 in Kpone – the largest steam plant in the country contributing 350 MW to the grid.

Another project under way is the Tema Thermal Power Plant. The Tema plant is being rolled out in two phases and includes the installation of eight gas turbines overall.

It has the advantage of flexibility in times of unsecure gas supply and will ultimately add 82 MW to the national grid.

“Siemens will in future be working with stakeholders to look into opportunities to harness wind energy to meet Ghana’s energy needs,” Dall’Omo said.

It was announced that Edmund Acheampong, a Ghananian who has been working with Siemens in the United States, has been appointed as the new Ghana country manager of Siemens in Accra.

His team will be responsible for business development, sales and project execution.

Mr Acheampong said at the event Siemens is currently active in more than 200 countries and has a 165-year track record in engineering excellence, innovation, quality and reliability.

“Siemens has a deep understanding of Ghana’s current and future energy issues and is well placed to assist the country in addressing these challenges.   

“Our commitment to Africa as a continent, and Ghana in particular, has been characterised by more than just the provision of infrastructure that has helped grow the economy, however.

Our conduct has always been characterised by a desire to see and contribute towards genuine and sustainable social upliftment in close collaboration with our local partners,” Acheampong concluded. 

Siemens AG (Berlin and Munich) is a global technology powerhouse that has stood for engineering excellence, innovation, quality, reliability and internationality for more than 165 years.

The company is active in more than 200 countries, focusing on the areas of electrification, automation and digitalization.

Source: www.ghananewsagency.org