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The much awaited 225 megawatts capacity power barge from Turkey will finally dock at Tema Saturday afternoon.

The power barge is expected to arrive at Winneba today - Friday - at 6 pm and will augment power supply across the nation.

Though the power barge may relieve Ghanaians of the perennial power cuts that have since become the bane of the country; the Deputy Power Minister John Jinapor wants electricity consumers to be aware of the cost that accompanies the barge.

According to him, Ghanaians should brace themselves to pay for the cost of power generation which obviously will reflect in utility prices.

He noted that some increases in utility prices may have to be administered once the barge is in tomorrow.

“The end user has to pay for the cost of energy in Ghana. If we have to; why not? No, let’s be fair and frank. If we have to increase it, we have to. We cannot pretend that look we want people to be happy and so we won’t increase, and yet we cannot buy crude oil and eventually we put the lights off. If we have to do or if it’s rational for us to do, I support that we do it. I’m for it. Yes, it may be an unpopular decision but if you’re in leadership, you have to take the right decision.”

John Jinapor also added that the power barge will not generate power immediately.

This is therefore to indicate that the power shortages (dum sor) may have to continue till early January next year.

“Let just sound this caution. It doesn’t mean we will immediately generate power when it arrives. We have to do some works.

“Test and everything will be within this year. I’m sure if we don’t encounter any problem based on test running and others, the barge will start supplying power” by early January next year.