In order to increase efficiency and maintain public oversight, John Abdulai Jinapor, Minister-designate for Energy, has revealed plans to combine the Volta River Authority (VRA) and Bui Power Authority (BPA) into a one organization.
“We believe that we can merge Bui Power and VRA so we can have something like Ghana Power Company,” Jinapor said during his vetting by Parliament’s Appointments Committee today. We have no plans to privatize.
He went on to explain that a holding company would be in charge of three subsidiaries as a result of the planned merger: hydro, thermal, and renewable components.
“We do not intend to privatize any of those plants because they produce about 45% of our national requirement. As a strategic step, you do not put all of your energy access in private hands,” he continued.
Guaranteeing inclusive consultations for employees, Jinapor said, “We will consult them. This is just an idea we intend to implement. If we need to tweak it, we will do that with them to bring about efficiency.”
“The earliest we can get power from nuclear is six years,” Jinapor said in reference to the nation’s nuclear power ambitions. That is, even if we check every box, but we use a different strategy.
Jinapor, who positioned himself as a reform-minded leader, said, “I want to be remembered as a young minister who insists on discipline. I know I will step on toes, but I will step on them gently.”
With Ghana struggling with debt and inefficiency in the energy industry, Jinapor’s plan calls for revolutionary changes without sacrificing governmental authority over vital resources.
Source: newsthemegh.com