The government will require $89.90 million to procure liquid fuel in the absence of natural gas, ensuring power generation companies can meet electricity demands.
The West Africa Gas Pipeline Company (WAGP), which supplies natural gas to Ghana, is scheduled to undergo a major maintenance exercise, known as pigging, halting gas supply for nearly a month. Initially planned for October 2024, the maintenance was deferred to January 2025 by the previous administration.
According to a statement by the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo), without liquid fuel, the maintenance will lead to a severe power crisis, resulting in frequent outages, commonly referred to as dumsor. GRIDCo emphasized the urgent need for liquid fuel to operate thermal plants in Tema to bridge the generation gap during the maintenance.
To mitigate the impact, GRIDCo recommended:
- Procuring $89.90 million worth of liquid fuel for thermal plants.
- Coordinating gas production reductions by ENI and Tullow during the maintenance.
- Securing additional generation capacity of at least 244.66 MW by late 2025.
- Obtaining an extra 129 mmcfd of natural gas or equivalent liquid fuel volumes to meet projected demand.
The government has initiated steps to address the crisis, holding emergency meetings with power sector stakeholders. A roadmap to resolve the challenge is expected by the end of the day.
