- The Institute for Energy Security (IES) has warned that the Ghanaian government may be compelled to import additional power to supplement local energy production.
- Also, IES Executive Director Nana Amoasi VII stated that this situation highlights the urgent need for sustainable solutions to secure Ghana’s power supply.
The Institute for Energy Security (IES) has warned that the Ghanaian government may be compelled to import additional power to supplement local energy production.
This warning follows Sunon Asogli Power (Ghana) Limited’s announcement that its 560 MW power plant will be shut down due to the Electricity Company of Ghana’s (ECG) inability to fulfil its overdue payment obligations.
The IES revealed that Ghana had been importing power for the past four weeks, even before the shutdown. Also, IES Executive Director Nana Amoasi VII stated that this situation highlights the urgent need for sustainable solutions to secure Ghana‘s power supply.
He said, “Over the last four weeks, we have been importing power, particularly from Cote d’Ivoire. We were importing power when Sunon Asogli was generating, and daily, they do more than 400 megawatts. We have not seen the shutdown’s impact because of the weather.
The IES Executive noted, “But now that we are getting out of the wet weather, the impact may be felt in the coming days. You will remember that last year, around December 4, they [Sunon Asogli] shut down for the first time, and the ministry intervened swiftly. Still, this time, they are choosing to start with an importation [of power] and probably go to the deck and meet Sunon Asogli.
“But I think we must start from somewhere, but I don’t believe ECG can address their problems in two or three months. It requires more of an investment into their operation, more competence, and less political interference to address some of these issues,” he added.