Prior to the substation installation, frequent outages and low voltage were a common occurrence. This substation seeks to address the voltage fluctuation problems in these communities. Power is evacuated to the UGMC and other load centres through 41.4km of 11KV offloading circuits.
SMEC provided engineering design, project management and technical expertise for the construction and implementation of the project. SMEC also supervised the commissioning of the substation. The $11million project was funded by the United States government acting Millennium Challenge Corporation and is part of the Ghana Power Compact Program.
New equipment within the substation includes two 26MVA transformers located outdoors and switching equipment housed in an adjacent control building. The substation has been designed for scalability, with capacity to extend the 33kV and 11kV switchgear in future.
The new facility has capacity to provide reliable power supply to the University of Ghana Medical Centre and the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research – while also serving as an alternative source of supply to the University of Ghana, the Ghana Institute of Public Administration, Ghana Standards Authority, and surrounding communities.
The deputy minister for Energy, Mohammed Amin Adam said the UGMC would benefit from a more stable and reliable energy supply,
“UGMC Primary Substation is one of many electric infrastructural assets, which form part of the Ghana Power Compact Programme. With the substation in close proximity to these institutions and with sufficient redundant capacity, the risk of equipment failure due to voltage fluctuations is significantly reduced”
In October 2023, Johan Basson (Function Manager, Urban Development) received an Honorary Fellowship from the Institute of Municipal Engineering of Southern Africa (IMESA).
The SMEC Foundation has supported a range of projects, guided by on-the-ground support and the professional expertise of SMEC staff. The dedication and local engagement within many of our regions sets the SMEC Foundation apart from other donor organisations. Your passion for making a difference has propelled us forward, enabling us to impact lives, uplift communities, and create positive change.
In a strong display of commitment to environmental sustainability, around 50 SMEC employees recently laced up their running shoes to participate in the “Takbo Para Sa Kalikasan” (Earth Run) 2023 held on 26 November at Liwasang Ulalim, CCP Complex, Pasay City. The event featured three run categories – 5K, 10K, and 25K – and was organised by the Green Media Events Company.
To bolster environmental stewardship, SMEC joined forces recently with the Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD) for a successful tree planting initiative in Vietnam. The activity, held at Me Linh Station for Biodiversity, located around 50km north of Hanoi, marked a significant step in SMEC’s commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability.