Accra, Ghana - The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has announced a three-week interruption in power supply due to a reduction in gas supply from Nigeria, a key source of fuel for the country's power plants.
Ghana has been experiencing power shortages, known as "dumsor," for several years. The gas reduction, which began on Wednesday, is attributed to maintenance works being conducted in Nigeria.
"The maintenance has caused a reduction in power generation capacity across Ghana, prompting the need for load shedding to manage electricity distribution efficiently," the ECG stated on Thursday evening.
The West African Gas Pipeline Company Limited (WAPCo) reported a drop in gas volumes available for transportation after one of its producers in Nigeria shut down its facility for maintenance.
This has led to a significant reduction in gas supply to WAPCo, which transports gas to customers in Togo, Benin, and Ghana.
"The current situation is entirely out of WAPCo's control. We expect normalcy to return after the maintenance activities," the regional power utility stated.
The ECG assured that it is working with other stakeholders in the power sector to optimize available resources and minimize the impact on consumers.
The company is implementing load shedding measures to manage the power supply efficiently during this period.
Ghana's power sector has been grappling with chronic challenges, including inadequate generation capacity, high system losses, and a lack of investment in the sector.
The government has been working to address these issues, but progress has been slow.
The current power outage highlights the need for Ghana to diversify its energy sources and reduce its dependence on gas imports from Nigeria.
The government has been exploring alternative sources of energy, including renewable energy, to ensure a stable and reliable power supply for the country.
