Ghana’s Akosombo Dam Faces Shutdown

The easing electricity crisis in the country may relapse as the Akosombo Hydro generating plant faces a possible shutdown due to a drastic drop in the water level.
Water levels in the Volta Lake which supplies the dam keep falling drastically due to the harmattan season. As of Friday, December 11, the water level in the dam stood at 243.55 feet and a further drop of 3.55 feet will mean a total shutdown of the plant.
The minimum operating water level for the dam is 240ft, and at this level, authorities are required to shut the turbines to save the plant, TV3’s Odelia Ntiamoah Boampong reports.
A shutdown of the turbines could compound the electricity crisis which Ghanaians have been looking forward to it to ease, especially as they prepare for Christmas.
Meanwhile, the Power Minister, Dr Kwabena Donkor has assured Ghanaians the current load shedding would be over by the end of December due to the various interventions on the ground but many Ghanaians doubt that could happen.
The Dam experienced its maximum water levels of 276.41 on November 2, 1974, and the lowest water level ever recorded was 235.76ft June 12, 1984. The Akosombo dam has been a major source of electricity power for the country over the last four decades.
Ghana’s generation mix now has 52 percent hydro, 36 percent thermal and 0.1 percent solar. Independent Power Producers generate 12 percent of thermal power.