Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) has vividly explained recent power outages in the country. A shortfall in gas supply to power plants in the Tema region of the Republic of Ghana has caused electricity output to fall by 550 MW.
This forced the electricity distribution company, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), to plunge many parts of Ghana into darkness.
However, a statement issued by GRIDCo’s corporate communications unit confirmed limited gas supplies to the Tema region, resulting in a 550 MW drop in output.
Ghana receives gas from Nigeria to supplement domestic gas from Atuabo and Jubilee for power plants in the West and East. Checks carried out by energynewsafrica.com in the energy sector show that gas supply from Nigeria has been very low in recent times due to low pressure.
Regarding Atuabo and Jubilee domestic gas, checks by energynewsafrica.com show that WAPCo has suspended gas shipments to the East because GNPC, the company shipping gas on their behalf, has not resolved the issues in settling its outstanding debt.
It’s unclear exactly how much WAPCo owes. Remember that WAPCo suspended gas shipments in July because of a $13 million debt.
The company resumed shipping gas after GNPC and ECG raised about $6.5 million to settle part of the debt. Meanwhile, grid operator GRIDCo has apologized to Ghanaians for the power outages causing them inconvenience. “We deeply regret the inconvenience caused,” GRIDCo said in a statement.
