The  ECG  has  also  built  several  sub-­‐stations  recently  at  Osu,  Lashibi,  Ashaiman  and  Ofankor  in   Accra  and  is  in  the  process  of  building  more  in  Takoradi.  The  ECG  has  also  set  up  maintenance   schedules  for  the  sub-­‐stations  and  if  faults  develop  on  them,  they  are  worked  upon  or  replaced   with   new   ones.   For   instance,   on   September   14,   2008   most   parts   of   eastern   Accra   were   without   power  so  as  to  enable  ECG  engineers  to  do  maintenance  work  on  the  sub-­‐stations.   The  ECG  has  also  made  provisions  for  the  construction  of  17  primary  sub-­‐stations  around  the   country.  This  is  to  help  make  electricity  more  readily  available  to  people  all  over  the  country,   because  the  more  substations  there  are,  the  more  flexible  power  supply  will  be.   5.13.2   Promote  Independent  Power  Suppliers   The  Government  of  Ghana  has  introduced  the  possibility  of  power  producers  and  the  ECG  has   signed  agreements  with  five  (5)  companies.  The  companies  include  CINERGEX,  Shenzen  Energy   Group   limited,   Tropical   Energy   Resources,   Bui   Hydro   and   Trans/Tema   Power   limited.   The   Ministry   of   Energy   (MoE)   has   signed   two   (2)   power   purchase   agreements   with   Balkan   Energy   Limited  for  the  Operationalization  of  the  Osagyefo  Power  Barge  and  the  Tema  Osonor  Power   Plant.   Over  the  years,  access  to  quality  energy  supply  has  been  fraught  with  so  many  inconsistencies   due   to   the   frequent   and   unannounced   power   outages.   In   this   regard,   the   Ghana   Chamber   of   Mines  acknowledges  the  effort  made  by  the  Government  of  Ghana  in  contracting  investors  to   venture  in  the  provision  of  energy  form  other  alternative  sources  other  than  Hydro.   Work   by   these   Independent   Power   Producers   (IPPs)   when   started,   will   go   a   long   way   to   reduce   the   cost   of   inputs   such   as   diesel   fuel.   Uncertainty   in   the   availability   of   gas   from   the   WAGP   is   also  major  hindrance  and  drawback  in  the  mining  industry.   5.13.3   Explore  Alternative  Sources  of  Power  (Solar,  Biogas)   In   order   to   ensure   the   exploration   of   other   sources   of   energy   (renewable   energy),   the   Renewal   Energy  Law  is  in  the  pipeline  to  help  pave  the  way  for  the  development  of  renewable  energy.   109