ON Thursday, several areas in Ghana were plunged into darkness as power outages struck due to a decrease in electricity generation. The Ghana Grid Company, in a statement, indicated a significant 550-megawatt gap during peak hours, roughly equating to 10 percent of the country’s installed generation capacity. The drop in electricity supply is a result of limited gas availability for power generation.
While the Ghana Grid Company confirmed the impact on consumers, it did not provide specific reasons for the gas shortage. The Ghana Gas Chief Executive Officer, Ben Asante, clarified the situation, stating that the issue was related to gas delivery rather than the supply of gas itself.
The root of the problem lies with the West African Gas Pipeline Company, responsible for delivering approximately 100 million standard cubic feet per day of gas from Takoradi to Tema. This critical pipeline has been temporarily taken out of service, leading to the disruption in gas supply for power generation.
The West African Gas Pipeline Company is expected to release an official statement on the matter on the following day.
Ghana, known for its significant cocoa, gold, and oil production, has been grappling with one of its most severe economic crises in a generation. This crisis is marked by double-digit inflation and mounting public debt, putting additional strain on the nation’s resources.
Earlier in the year, Ghana’s independent power producers (IPPs) had cautioned the government about the potential for power outages due to unpaid arrears amid prolonged debt negotiations, as disclosed in a letter. The IPPs managed to secure an interim agreement with the state-run Electricity Company of Ghana a month later to address the arrears owed to them. However, they also issued a warning that unless the debt issue is fully resolved, they may shut down without prior notice, adding further pressure to Ghana’s power generation and distribution sector.