The Volta River Authority is undertaking a retrofit of the six hydro generators at Akosombo dam in Ghana. Three of the units are already back on line and the fourth retrofit is due for completion in July 2003.

Financial support for the retrofitting project is provided by the International Development Association (IDA), US$7.7M; European Investment Bank, US$47.2M; VRA US$61.9M in addition to local currency US$7.1M as at last year.

The dam, completed in 1965, currently has an installed capacity of 912MW.

Due to low water levels in the reservoir as well as the retrofit operation, the country’s two hydro plants at Akosombo and Kpong are expected to supply 35% of total power needed this year with the rest coming from thermal sources at Aboadze and the Ivory Coast.