29-07-2010 Government as a matter of urgency has been called upon to ensure that the Pwalugu Hydro-Electric Project is enlisted inTO the 2009-20010 energy projects. This was contained in a release signed by the President of the Northern Patriots in Research and Advocacy, NORPRA, Bismark Adongo Ayorogo at Bolgatanga. According to the release, exclusion of the said project will undoubtedly defeat the overall goal of government’s own energy policy which is aimed at developing and sustaining an efficient and viable energy sector. The policy, the release stated seeks to provide secure, safe and reliable supply of energy to meet development needs in a competitive manner. Mr. Adongo said in 2008, parliament gave an approval of 500 million loan agreement between the government of Ghana and the Brazillian National Bank for Economic and Social Development to finance the development and construction of Hydro-electric power projects at Pwalugu in the Upper East and Juale in the Northern Regions. He said two years after the loan approval no mention is made of the Pwalugu project though feasibility studies carried out by Coyne ET of France on the two projects showed that the schemes are technically and economically attractive and capable of adding more power generation. The project, he noted, also has a potential of exporting power to other neighbouring countries including Burkina- Faso and Mali. Mr Adongo indicated that the projects when completed will not only address the country’s energy problems but also have a positive impact on irrigation, fisheries as well as water transportation. The release said despite these immense potentials of the projects they were excluded in the government’s policy statement for 2010. It however appealed to the government to reconsider its decision in ensuring that those projects are implemented before the end of the year to help alley doubts about the development of the north as promised by the government.
GBC/Rel End IA/
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