- To manage electricity distribution efficiently, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) announced on Thursday that load shedding would be necessary
Power cuts are expected to last at least another three weeks in parts of Ghana because of a shortage of supplies from Nigeria.
A statement from the state power firm said a temporary shutdown for maintenance works at an unnamed Nigerian gas supplier was to blame.
Ghanaians have endured years of regular power shortages and they even have their own nickname – “dumsor” – which means “on and off” in the Akan language.
The gas reduction, which began on Wednesday, is due to maintenance work by a gas supplier in Nigeria. This has led to a decrease in power generation capacity across Ghana.
To manage electricity distribution efficiently, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) announced on Thursday that load shedding would be necessary.
“The reduction in gas supply is due to maintenance works being undertaken by a gas supplier in Nigeria and is projected to last three weeks,” it added.
On Wednesday, West African Gas Pipeline Company Limited (WAPCo) revealed that it was experiencing a decline in the volume of gas available for transportation as a result of one of its producers in Nigeria shutting down its facility for maintenance.
This reduction in gas availability has had a knock-on effect on customers in Togo, Benin, and Ghana, who are experiencing decreased gas supplies transported by WAPCo.
“The current situation is entirely out of WAPCo’s control,” the regional power utility added.
“We expect normalcy to return after the maintenance activities.”
ECG has assured the public that it is working collaboratively with other key stakeholders in the power sector to make the most of available resources, thereby minimizing the impact on consumers during the gas shortage period.
It comes barely two months after President Nana Akufo-Addo curtailed the export of electricity to neighbouring Togo, Burkina Faso and Benin in response to local supply challenges.
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