CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE | WEEKLY NEWS
by Pascal Dotchevi, Togo, May 1998
THEME = SOCIAL CONDIT.
West Africa is suffering from an acute shortage of electricity.
Benin, Ghana and Togo are the most affected.
Close on three months after the crisis began,
there seems to be no end to the situation
On 25 February, problems with the electricity supply started in Benin and Togo. They are only getting 50% of what Ghana usually supplies them from the Akossombo Hydroelectric Dam on the River Volta (run by the Volta River Authority). The present situation has arisen because of the drought which is hitting the whole region. Under normal circumstances, Togo and Benin receive between 80-100 megawatts (rising to 120-140 at peak hours) from the Volta River Authority (VRA). From 25 February, because of the reduction in power, the Electricity Supply Company of Togo (CETT) which has 70,000 customers, had to activate a selective power-cut programme, consisting of eight hours with electricity alternating with eight hours without electricity.
The Togolese and Beninese authorities approached their counterparts in Côte d'Ivoire over the problem. Côte d'Ivoire promised them 50 megawatts of electricity. The Prime Ministers of Togo and Benin then negotiated with the Ghanaian authorities about allowing the "unhindered passage of these 50 megawatts across Ghana".
But the situation didn't improve. On 20 March, things got even worse with twelve hours without electricity alternating with six hours with electricity. This was because even less power was received than before - a reduction from 30 to 21 megawatts. Such was the situation in Togo when, on 6 April, the CETT informed its customers that "because of technical problems in Côte d'Ivoire, there would be a further cut in power supplies". A new power-saving plan was then activated consisting of thirty hours without electricity, followed by six hours with electricity. This takes into account the 15 megawatts Togo is presently receiving from Côte d'Ivoire.
On 2 April, the West African Development Bank (BOAD) allocated a grant-in-aid to Togo and Benin of 13 billion CFA francs. This will enable these countries to buy two petrol-driven turbines of 25 megawatts each.
On 9 April, the Electricity Supply Company of Benin (CEB), the inter-state organisation with responsibility for importing, distributing and providing electricity to Togo and Benin, ordered two turboalternators, at a total cost of 13.8 million CFA francs. These turbines should be in use by June.
The Togolese authorities managed to get hold of a team of French experts to come to Togo and repair the machinery at Lomé power station which can produce up to 90 megawatts. It's been out of action since 1990.
Tchamdja Andjo is Togo's Minister of Mines and Energy. He says the present situation shows clearly what happens when Togo depends on one supplier for its electrical power. The country only produces 30% of its own electricity and depends on Ghana for the rest. "For this reason", says Mr Andjo, "Togo has got to diversify its suppliers. We've also got to produce enough electricity ourselves for at least 50% of our needs".
In the long run, Togo could profit from the joint hydroelectricity projects with Nigeria, and also from the opening of the Adjaralla Dam on Togo's Mono River - a joint Benin-Togo project. At the end of April, donors involved in these projects were in Lomé to discuss their various points of view . All seemed set for the Adjaralla Dam, capable of producing 400 million kilowatts per year, to come on line at the beginning of next year. However, donors insisted that first of all, Benin must privatise the Electricity and Water Company of Benin (SBEE) before the project can be launched.
For the moment, a number of businesses and households (the rich ones!) are being "saved" because they've installed generators. During a cabinet meeting held on 8 April, the government decided to exempt from import duty for the moment, generators imported from other countries, so that people "can buy them at affordable prices, until the situation returns to normal".
President Eyadéma of Togo has discussed the problem with President Blaise Compaoré of Burkina Faso (whose country is in the same situation) and with President Mathieu Kérékou of Benin. Having requested help from Nigeria, Togo and Benin also decided to send their Foreign and Energy Ministers on a joint mission to the United Nations to request help from the international community.
There seems to be no immediate solution to a problem (which has caused a great deal of economic damage to those countries concerned). December could see improvements in the electricity supply but this whole crisis might cause President Eyadéma a great deal of trouble when the 14 June elections take place.
END
CONTENTS | ANB-BIA HOMEPAGE | WEEKLY NEWS
PeaceLink 1998 - Reproduction authorised, with usual acknowledgement