Inauguration of the Elecnor Foundation's project to strengthen the power supply of nine health centres in Ghana

Fernando Azaola, Chairman of Elecnor and of the Elecnor Foundation, has inaugurated the Solar Back-Up Systems project in the town of Assin Fosu in Ghana, the Foundation's first on the African continent. The ceremony was attended by Ghana's Energy and Oil Minister, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, Gonzalo Cervera, Trustee of the Elecnor Foundation, and Jorge Alvar, the Spanish Embassy’s Economic and Trade Adviser in Ghana.

The objective of this initiative is to strengthen the power supply of six hospitals and three clinics managed by the Sisters Hospitallers of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Sisters of Charity of Saint Anne congregations and the Ghanaian Ministry of Health. These centres include the St. Francis Xavier Hospital, the venue for the inauguration ceremony. Overall, this healthcare networkserves an average of 500,000 patients and carries out over 7,000 surgical interventions per year.

The specific objective of the strengthening of the power supply is to ensure the smooth operation of the following key areas: operating theatres, maternity services, emergencies, laboratory services and administration.

To this end, back-up systems have been installed using solar batteries and inverter chargers boosted by solar panels to guarantee the power supply in the event of voltage fluctuations causing power outages.

At the heart of this infrastructure are 21 inverter/charger systems which store energy in the batteries whilst there is an electricity supply and monitor the quality and continuity of the supply, deciding whether to operate in charging mode or, if a fault is detected, to switch to inverter mode.

The result of teamwork

Addressing those present at the ceremony, Fernando Azaola said: "Having completed the installation and start-up of this equipment in the nine centres, we wished to share with you our satisfaction with a job well done and our commitment to ensuring that it operates smoothly."

He also underlined the importance of the country to Elecnor, adding: "Ghana stands out for its exceptional potential, its institutional stability, its strategic position within West Africa and its welcoming climate for businesses which, like ours, are guided by a steadfast commitment to the sustainable and overall development of the communities where they operate."