Ghana faces a looming power crisis as WAGP maintenance halts gas supply, requiring $89.9M for liquid fuel to sustain electricity.
The government is racing against time to secure US$89.9 million for liquid fuel procurement to maintain electricity generation during a planned shutdown of the West Africa Gas Pipeline (WAGP) in January 2025.
This effort comes as the country faces an impending power crisis that could affect millions.
The maintenance activity, referred to as pigging, will halt the supply of natural gas from Nigeria for a month, raising fears of severe power outages, commonly known as dumsor.
The Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) has warned of a critical power generation deficit during the maintenance period. Thermal plants in Tema, including Cenpower, Asogli, AKSA, and KTPP, are heavily reliant on natural gas and currently lack sufficient liquid fuel reserves to bridge the gap.
To avert a crisis, GRIDCo has outlined the following urgent measures: immediate acquisition of liquid fuels to sustain power generation, optimizing limited gas resources through alignment with ENI and Tullow’s production schedules, and adding 244.66 MW of dependable power generation by the fourth quarter of 2025.
This also includes procuring 129 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) of natural gas or its liquid fuel equivalent to meet demand.
Originally scheduled for October 2024, the pipeline maintenance was postponed by the outgoing administration, leaving little time for contingency planning. GRIDCo has called the situation critical, emphasizing that failure to act swiftly could result in widespread and prolonged power disruptions.
In response to the looming crisis, the new administration has convened emergency meetings with key power sector stakeholders. A task force has been established to develop a comprehensive roadmap, with instructions to present actionable solutions by the end of the day.
This energy challenge comes at a time when Ghana is already grappling with economic pressures. Prolonged power outages could exacerbate these issues, impacting industries and households alike, and undermining efforts to stabilize the country’s economy.
With the clock ticking, the government’s ability to secure the necessary funding and implement contingency measures will determine whether Ghana can navigate this critical period without significant disruption to its power supply.
