Keypoints:
- Eni to suspend gas plant operations on Sunday
- 30m scf/day output boost planned post-upgrade
- Ghana to face temporary electricity disruptions
GHANA will face temporary electricity disruptions from Sunday as Italian energy giant Eni suspends operations at its key gas plant to carry out an upgrade, the country’s Ministry of Energy announced on July 8.
The temporary shutdown is designed to facilitate a planned increase in natural gas output—boosting supply by 30 million standard cubic feet per day (scf/d), bringing the total daily flow to 270 million scf/d. But during the upgrade, the halt in production is expected to reduce gas available for electricity generation.
Gas upgrade to improve long-term supply
‘Eni has agreed to enhance supply by 30 million scf/d to stabilise gas flow and improve energy reliability,’ the ministry said in a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter). It noted that the shutdown would impact current power generation but was necessary to unlock future supply gains.
The affected facility is part of Eni’s Offshore Cape Three Points (OCTP) project, located off Ghana’s Atlantic Coast. According to Eni’s website, the project currently delivers around 65 percent of Ghana’s gas requirements, making it a backbone of the country’s energy system.
Minister warns of short-term disruption
Energy Minister John Jinapor, speaking at an event in Kumasi earlier this week, acknowledged the likelihood of power interruptions during the upgrade period.
‘Ghana is likely to experience some interaction or interruption of power during this process,’ he told stakeholders. ‘But once the work is completed, we shall stabilise the supply of gas, increase gas production, and that will significantly enhance the delivery of power.’
Ghana, the world’s second-largest cocoa producer, has been ramping up efforts to grow its oil and gas sector as part of a strategy to raise public revenues and prevent hydrocarbon assets from becoming stranded amid the global transition to cleaner energy.
Tullow steps up to boost supply
In a parallel move to support the country’s power grid, UK-based Tullow Oil announced plans last week to raise gas supply from its Jubilee and TEN oilfields to around 130 million scf/d. The company’s expansion is expected to complement Eni’s output and enhance overall energy stability.
Together, these developments mark a determined push by Ghana and its international partners to modernise energy infrastructure and secure a reliable power supply, even as short-term outages remain a challenge.
