USTDA Grant Promotes Electricity Distribution in Ghana with Two Grants

(USTDA) ACCRA, GHANA – The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) signed two grants in Accra last week to support electricity distribution system development in Ghana. The grants further USTDA's Africa Clean Energy Solutions Initiative, which was introduced in 2010 to assist in the development of clean and sustainable sources of energy.

Paul Marin, and Managing Director John Nuworklo of the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) signed the first grant on Dec. 5, 2012. The grant supports technical assistance that will aid NEDCo in the development of its five-year investment plan for its electricity distribution systems. As NEDCo improves its energy operations, the grant will enable it to identify necessary procurements in areas such as demand side management, load management and network operations.

Regional Director Marin signed the second grant with Managing Director William Hutton-Mensah of the Electricity Company of Ghana Limited (ECG). The grant supports a feasibility study to evaluate the development of an automated electricity distribution system that will fully integrate with ECG's business processes.

"We're pleased to support Ghana's goals in making electricity more accessible and reliable for its citizens," stated Marin. "Both development projects will also help open the market for U.S. electricity distribution technologies, as well as build relationships between U.S. industry and Ghana's leading electricity companies."

The opportunity to conduct the USTDA-funded feasibility study will be competed on the Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) website. A link to the FBO announcement will be posted to USTDA's website at www.ustda.gov. Interested U.S. firms should submit proposals according to the instructions in the FBO announcement.