Halla Energy to invest in Ghana

Page 28, 24/01/12

Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah


A KOREAN energy company, Halla Energy and Environment, has begun a six-month feasibility studies aimed at paving the way for the establishment of a 300-megawatt solar energy project in the country.
Officials of the company, who held talks with Energy Commission officials in Accra last Thursday, indicated that they would collaborate with their Ghanaian counterparts for the execution of the project should the feasibility studies prove successful.
The Vice-President and Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr Kim Byung, told journalists after holding a close-door meeting with officials of the Energy Commission that Halla Energy and Environment was committed to contributing to the country’s energy mix efforts.
He said Ghana’s climate was very conducive for the establishment of the solar energy project.
Mr Byung said his meeting with officials of the Energy Commission had informed him about the way forward and expressed the hope that the feasibility studies would prove successful to ensure the commencement of the project.
He added that it was time for African countries to invest in renewable energy facilties in order to meet its growing energy demands.
Mr Byung explained that the company, which had been in existence for about half a century now, had help in the industrialisation process of South Korea through the development of renewable energy facilities and would, therefore, want to replicate its success story in Ghana.
On environment, he stated that for over 30 years , Halla Energy and Environment had successfully completed a lot of environmental projects and developed high technologies in waste treatment, waste water treatment and air pollution control.
He said the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), was involved in the arrangement to bring the company into the country in collaboration with Magcor Ghana Limited and the Member of Parliament (MP) for Afigya-Sekyere East, Mr David H. Yeboah.
For his part, Mr Yeboah explained that private companies were now allowed to enter into the energy sector and expressed the hope that the intention by Halla Energy and Environment to establish a 300-megawatt solar energy project would see the light of the day.