The Volta River Authority (VRA) and Shenzhen Energy
Group are pushing to get a 700MW coal plant up and running by April 2017.
The groups, including the Ghana Youth Climate
Coalition (GYCC), Green Africa Youth Organization (GAYO-Ghana) and Hipsters of
Nature, believe
any investment in coal will rather result in devastating environmental challenges,
because coal is considered a major contributor to global warming.
In a petition to commemorate World Environment Day, the
Movement stated that an attempt to establish a coal plant will give the impetus
to importing coal pollution into Ghana.
“Designation of a technology as a 'clean coal'
technology does not imply that it reduces emissions to zero or near zero. For
this reason, the term ‘clean coal’ is misleading,” said a statement. “No clean
coal technology, sufficient to cut emissions from current generators by up to
50 per cent, is economically viable at industrial scale or expected to become
viable within the next five years”.
The groups have urged the EPA and the Ministries responsible for Energy, Power Environment,
Science, Technology and Innovation to
put the interest of people and the environment first in all decision-making
concerning the coal fired power plant project.
The coal power project is intended to contribute to
addressing the power generation shortfall in Ghana to meet domestic and
industrial demands.
But the Ghana Youth Environmental Movement
wants Ghana to follow the global path of a transition from
dirty energy to clean energy and rather invest in
renewable energy to push forward the dictates of the Paris
climate agreement.
“GYEM will continue to urge the EPA to be firm on its
mandate and responsibility to protect the environment without compromising on
the health of the people of Ghana and the integrity of our ecosystems,” it
stated.
Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh
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