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GHACEM installs
generators to boost production
Tema, April 18, GNA - Ghana Cement Company Limited (GHACEM),
has installed six diesel-generators to produce a total
output of 5.1 megawatts of power at its plant at Tema to
augment the current shortfall of energy supplies for
production and the supply of cement on the market.
The Company has also started taking delivery of imported
bagged cement from its sister company in Togo, expecting a
total of 40,000 tons, which is equivalent to 800,000 bags to
supplement production and supply of cement to the market.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony at Tema on Wednesday,
the Managing Director, Mr Morten Gade said the six
generators were sufficient to compensate for the 25 percent
enforced reduction in electricity from the national grid.
He said subject to the availability of diesel, it would
enable the company hit its total production capacity of 2.4
million tons annually at the factories at both Tema and
Takoradi plants.
The Managing Director said most of the raw materials for the
production of cement were imported thus contributing to the
price but despite that power was the imperative to the
production and supply of the commodity to market.
The shortfall in energy supplies has a direct impact on the
optimum production and distribution of cement on the market,
he said.
He, however, indicated that GHACEM was still searching for
local limestone with the objective of producing clinker, the
main raw material of cement.
GHACEM, he said was also making a feasibility study to
increase its production capacity by one million tons
annually by January one 2010 to meet the expected growing
demand.
The President of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI),
Mr Anthony Oteng-Gyasi said while the industries were
adhering to the 25 percent reduction in energy consumption,
commercial and residential customers must also be compelled
to reduce their power consumption.
He appealed to the government to expedite moves in the
importation of energy bulbs and enforce its usage.
While efforts were being made to solve the energy situation,
Mr Oteng-Gyasi who is also the Chairman of Ghana University
Council and Managing Director of Tropical Cables Limited
appealed to the government to consider investing in the
production of generators in the country rather than
importing them.
The AGI President said now that Ghanaians were relying
solely on the use of generators, government must reduce the
price of diesel, which feeds the generators to make it
affordable to all.
Commissioning the generators, Mr Kwamena Bartels, Minister
of Information and National Orientation said government,
concerned to resolve the energy situation had embarked on
long, medium and short-term measures to return the energy
consumption to normalcy.
These include the procurement of quantities of megawatts
generators to produce power, the installation of the
Osagyefo Barge very soon as well as the construction of the
Bui Dam.
The Minister impressed on GHACEM management to ensure that
distributors did not capitalize on the situation to increase
the price of cement arbitrarily to create artificial
shortage.
The Strategy and Corporate Affairs Director of GHACEM, Dr
George Dawson-Ahmoah said in spite of the current situation,
the company which is 40 years in production would continue
with its corporate social responsibilities to support the
under privileged and the needy communities.
Mr Felix Nyarko, Chairman of the Cement Distributors
Association expressed satisfaction with the arrangement put
in place to address the situation and called on his
colleagues to be patriotic enough to sell the cement at the
approved prices.
GNA
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