Sierra Leone News: GHADDAR & IPCS Hold Energy Products & Hybrid Solutions Seminar
By Stephen V. Lansana
Ghaddar Machinery Comopnay Powering Generations in collaboration with Integrated Power and Control Solutions Ltd (IPCS) on Thursday February 7, 2019, held a one day seminar to display its energy products and hybrid solutions at the Family Kingdom Resort in Freetown.
The seminar attracted stakeholders from the energy sector, telecom operators, business executive and the media, among others.
Ghaddar Machinery Co. offers services like solar panels, hybrid application solutions for telecom operators, training, engineering solutions, and certification, adding that their products have very good battery storage.
The Sales and Business Development Manager of Ghaddar Machinery Co., Karim Ghaddar said that the event is mainly to introduce hybrid solutions that telecom companies will hugely use, adding that it also introduces solar panel that will generate output programme to decrease electricity bills whether from generators or EDSA utility.
He said that solar PV will help to save a lot of money, adding that “when the sun save your fuel, you make profit.”
“Our company can install solar system company here and thus helping the utility company and energy sector in the country. In Sierra Leone, there is limited access to electricity and so, our company will help in making energy accessible because we will provide energy at a lower cost,” he said.
He said that electricity is not currently spread in the country. He said that in rural areas we offer solar panels that are special for homes for example where we have batteries, backup generator and solar panels. When the sun hit the solar panels we generate powers and supply overloads without the use of generator and we charge our batteries, and during the night the batteries will supply the electricity.
Presenting on the advantages of PV system, he said that it will help one to save money; avoid rising cost of fuel cost, increase property values; secure power; create energy independence; and save the environment. He added that the system is maintenance free, and that one only need to clean the panel.
“The purpose of PV system is to provide power that is completely free. Sierra Leone is pending more on energy through either generator or green power.”
He said that Africa uses natural gas to generate electricity, noting that natural gas is not sustainable. “In Sierra Leone, there is high energy demand mainly because of the natural gas that the country relied on. We cannot rely on it,” he said.
He disclosed that their company offers three main types of solar panels: monocrystalline which is most efficient, most expensive and has lower degradation about 0.6; polycrystalline which is less efficient, less expensive; and thin file which is least efficient, least flexible and higher degradation.
The Account Manager of Ghaddar Machinery Company, Mohammed Ali Ghaddar said that the geographical region and the climate of Sierra Leone are very favorable for the hybrid solutions for telecom and solar panel applications they provide. He added that their company has very good engines that will save energy for a very long time, adding that they provide better machinery.
In his PowerPoint presentation, the Application Engineer- Trainer, Engineer Mohammed Shaat said, “In our capability, we can produce from 4 to 4000KVA; voltages up to 150V; 50Hz, 60Hz, 400Hz; and diesel, gas and bi-fuel, among others.”
He added that they have products like Kobuta for small range; John Deere for middle range and Cummins for big range, adding that the Cummins is made for big plants. “Cummins is the best choice for power plant application. It engine has lower opex compare to other manufacturers. It is number one in generator, number one in telecom,” he said.
He said that according to expert, 90 percenmt of generator tripping is due to wiring problems like co-crimped solutions; missing/withdrawn strands; and missing bracket, noting that their wiring is the easiest to trace.
He said that IPCS is the sole agent of their products in Sierra Leone, adding that there are no lapses in the products and services offered.
The Managing Director of Sierratel, Senesie Kallon said, “I am satisfied with the services provided by the company.”
He disclosed that Sierratel is a beneficiary of high product machinery brought in the country by IPCS, noting that the products are durable and help solve a number of energy solutions. He said IPCS also help to service the products and repairs them when there is a fault.
