We'll use renewable and nuclear energy to solve power crisis in the longterm - Jinapor

The Deputy Minister Designate for Energy and Petroleum, Mr John Abdulai Jinapor, has pledged to assist his boss work hard to end the power challenges currently plaguing the country.

Taking his turn before the Appointment Committee of Parliament Monday, Mr Jinapor said the power crisis had arisen as a result of the goverment's inability to meet the country's peak electricty demand of 1750 megawatts.

He said though Ghana had an installed generation capacity of 2455 Megawatts, the damage to the West African Gas Pipeline last year knocked out some of the country's electricity generation installations, including the Asogli Power Plant, which he said was producing 200 megawatts.

Mr Jinapor pledged to support the substantive Minister, Mr Emmanuel Armah Kofi Boah, to implement short, medium and long-term solutions to ending the power crisis.

He said he would especially strive to help the government achieve a generation target of 5000 Megawatts by 2016.

Mr Jinapor said the ministry would also explore the possibility of adopting renewable and nuclear energy as part of long-term efforts to solving the country's electricty problem.

Touching on the challenges facing the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), Mr Jinapor said the government had resolved to resource the refinery with about $70 million. 

"Thirty million has been released to TOR to help improve operations. I will push and support the Minister to ensure that we release money immediately to put TOR out of this situation," he said.

 Mr Jinapor also pledged support for the Ghana Gas Project, which he said had the potential to transform Ghana's economy.

"The Gas project is important...it is on course and will be completed by the end of this year. The liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) and other by-products from Gas will turn this economy around," he said. 

He said he would commit himself to ensuring the project was completed on schedule.

Mr Jinapor is also the Spokesperson of President John Dramani Mahama. 

Story: Samuel Obour/Graphic.com.gh