As part of continuing business engagements between GRIDCo and SONABEL for the supply of electricity, a delegation from Burkina Faso’s National Electricity Company (SONABEL) paid a working visit to GRIDCo at its Head Office in Tema. The visit aimed to review the performance of the Ghana – Burkina interconnection, and to discuss prospects for additional Energy Exchanges for the period 2025 to 2027.
Ing. Frank Otchere, Director System Operations, who welcomed the SONABEL delegation on behalf of the Chief Executive, acknowledged the importance of such collaborations, underscoring the mutual benefits it has yielded both parties. He informed the SONABEL delegation that the Chief Executive and his management team consider them a priority customer and were committed to explore every opportunity to ensure reliable power supply to Burkina Faso.
The Director General of SONABEL, Mr. Souleymane OUEDRAGO stressed on the critical role electricity supply from Ghana plays in the economic development of Burkina Faso, explaining that a shortfall in power supply in the first half of the year impacts them. He appealed to GRIDCo to explore long-term mechanisms that would help ensure the reliable supply of electricity and ensure all Right-of-Way (RoW) issues are comprehensively addressed.
Mr. Pazouki-Nam. Arisitide OUEDRAGO, Director of Transmission and Generation, SONABEL, delivered a presentation highlighting the performance of interconnection in the first half of 2024. It revealed some issues which GRIDCo will assist with, and the joint technical committee will also discuss for resolution.
The GRIDCo team also briefed SONABEL about efforts to provide reliable power supply for the rest of the year and beyond. These include bulldozers clearing on the RoW of critical lines, replacement of the 200MVA auto-transformers on the interconnection with 250MVA auto-transformers with phase shifting capability, installation of a 50 MVA SVC at Nayagnia, etc.
The Director General of SONABEL informed the GRIDCo team about their efforts to engage other players in the energy value chain for more generation in addition to what is contracted from VRA. Thus, SONABEL requested for joint studies to be conducted to determine its feasibility of the supply, and the investments required for it. This led to renewed discussions about the outlook for the 330 kV Ghana-Burkina-Mali transmission project.
Ing. Otchere reiterated GRIDCo’s commitment to maintaining the existing mutually beneficial relationship with SONABEL while Mr. Souleymane OUEDRAGO expressed appreciation to GRIDCo for the support and collaboration so far.
Other participants from GRIDCo included, Mrs. Monica Senanu (Director, Legal); Ing. Nicholina Yembilah (Director, Project Implementation Unit); Ing. Benjamin Ntsin (Director Northern Network Department); Ing. Adam Hussain (Director Southern Network Department); Ing. Bismark Anane (Director, Land Management); Ing. Francis Authur (Director, Engineering) and some technical Managers. The SONABEL delegation comprised Mr. Hema Pascal (Technical Advisor); Mr. Pazouki-Nam Aristide OUEDRAGO (Director of Transmission and Generation); Mr. Dina Souleymane (Head of Legal Advisory); and Mr. Ye Sieta Aldi (Contract Manger).
