Mahama assures IPPs of efforts to resolve any potential power crisis

President John Dramani Mahama has assured Independent Power Producers (IPPs) of his commitment to resolving challenges in the power sector, despite the government’s high indebtedness to these entities.

Experts have warned that without prompt action to address the situation, a looming power crisis could disrupt economic activities and public services.

However, during a meeting with the Independent Power Producers (IPPs) on Monday, January 13, 2025, President Mahama acknowledged the concerns of the IPPs and assured them of the government’s commitment to finding lasting solutions. He emphasized the importance of collaboration in resolving the crisis.

The president also expressed concern about the escalating debt and losses at the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and outlined government plans to address revenue shortfalls and improve efficiency.

“It was important for me to meet with you as president and tell you that I care about your concerns and what you are going through, and to say that we are going to work together with you to see how we can resolve the issues in the power sector.”

“The first thing is to deal with the value chain, which means we must start from the downstream all the way to the upstream. There are issues related to the availability of gas, which is upstream, and how to get companies in that space to increase exploration to bring on more gas so that we can eliminate the use of fossil fuels.”

“This will bring down the cost of generation; that’s the first thing. The next is how we can bring more efficiency into your sector and the production of power so that we can pass on the benefits to the Ghanaian people.”

The IPPs have expressed their readiness to work together with the government to tackle this issue.

Meanwhile, the West African Gas Pipeline Company (WAPCo) has agreed to postpone its scheduled pipeline maintenance by two weeks, offering temporary relief to Ghana’s energy sector, which is grappling with inadequate fuel supplies for thermal power plants.

Source: starrfm.com.gh