GE Endeavor Energy and Finagestion come together in an Innovative Project to boost Ghana Power Supply by 1000 Megawatts

Posted May 7, 2014

The Ghana 1000 Consortium brings together GE, Endeavor Energy and Finagestion.
The First Phase of project is expected to deliver 360 MW of Power by early 2017.
When complete, the Ghana 1000 Project will create one of the largest single Power Parks in sub-Saharan Africa.
The Ghana 1000 project is innovatively unique as an LNG-to-power project completed in an emerging market.

May 6, 2014, Accra, Ghana: Global infrastructure giant General Electric (GE), Endeavor Energy and Finagestion have today signed a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) to develop and implement the Ghana 1000 Project. When complete, this innovative integrated gas-to-power project will deliver more than 1,000 MW of electricity to Ghana’s national power grid. The JDA signing ceremony took place at the Ministry of Energy offices and was witnessed by Ghana Deputy Minister for Energy Hon. John Janakpor, John Rice, Vice-Chairman and President & CEO of GE Global Growth and Operations and senior officials from GE, Endeavor Energy and Finagestion.

The Ghana 1000 Project will be located in Western Ghana. It will combine the importation of liquefied natural gas (LNG), a dedicated Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FRSU) to receive, store and regas, while associated infrastructure will transport natural gas on-shore to advanced GE turbines to generate efficient, clean power.

The Ghana 1000 Project Consortium is a purely private sector, independent power producer initiative with zero direct financial contribution from the Government of Ghana. The Government’s role has to been to create an enabling environment and regulatory framework to allow the project partners to fast-track the addition of critically needed power to the national grid. The Government will also facilitate a long-term agreement with the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and potentially other power offtakers of the purchase of power from the project. Ghana presently has installed generation capacity of 2,412 MW and dependable generation capacity of 2,125 MW.

The first phase of the Project is expected to begin delivering power by early 2017, initially producing 360 MW in simple cycle mode. When completed in early 2018, it will generate more than 540 MW in combined cycle mode. The second and final phase of the Project is expected to be implemented before 2019. The combined completion of all these phases will create one of the largest single Power Parks in sub-Saharan Africa generating in excess of 1,100 MW of power.

Speaking on behalf of the Ghana Government, Ghana Minister of Ghana, Hon John Janakfpor said, “We thank the Ghana 1000 partners for keeping their commitment to support government efforts to boost electricity generation and lower the cost of power in Ghana. The Ghana Government will facilitate and fast track all approvals and permits and provide adequate credit enhancement in a transparent manner.”

Jay Ireland, CEO & President of GE Africa said, “The first phase of the Project alone will require more than $20 million of development capital, over $200 million of equity from the project sponsors and more than $600 million in debt financing. GE Africa is extremely excited about the significant investment in material resources as well as exceptional project development, operational and maintenance expertise.” Mr. Ireland promised that the project will be developed and executed to international standards and that the plant, once operational, will run optimally. “There are strong indications that this initiative will make Ghana a reference point in the use of innovative technology for power generation,” he added.

An Integral part of the Project will be the importation of LNG to use as a dedicated fuel source for the Project. The Ghana 1000 consortium partners are currently exploring options with a number of international suppliers. They are also in discussions with a Ghanaian trading company to handle the management and logistics of importing LNG for the project.

Endeavor Energy, an Africa-focused developer and operator of thermal and hydroelectric power projects will together with GE co-lead the development of the project. Endeavor Energy is a portfolio company of leading energy and resources-focused global private equity firm Denham Capital. “The Ghana 1000 Project will be unique as an LNG-to-power project completed in an emerging market and is important to Ghana because it will both add reliable, baseload generation as well as help to lower the cost of power in the country when compared to plants currently running off expensive light crude oil,” said Sean Long, CEO of Endeavor Energy. He also added, “Current LNG prices are approximately 35 percent less than light crude yet most thermal plants in Ghana run on it due to shortage of gas. In fact, recent reports indicate Ghana currently spends more than $1 million daily to purchase light crude oil for power generation, so the impact of this project on the country’s economy cannot be understated.”

Finagestion is an African utility sector operating group controlling several concessions in water & electricity sectors in Côte d’Ivoire & and Senegal. Finagestion is a portfolio company of Emerging Capital Partners (ECP), a pan-African private equity firm and will assume a key role as part owner and operator of the facility and be part of the Ghana 1000 Consortium. Also speaking, the Chairman of Finagestion and co-CEO of ECP Vincent Le Guennou said, “This is the first time such quantum of Power will be produced from a single location in Sub-Saharan Africa outside South Africa. The fact that we are putting 1,000MW on a single site will yield significant savings on account that the power generation units can leverage the same balance of plants parts and staff.”