Businesses that depend on electricity for survival must brace themselves for troubled times ahead as the Institute of Energy Security (IES) has predicted that current mild power outages is expected to deteriorate.
Already the country is facing a challenge with stable power supply as a result of gas supply shortages to thermal plants operating in the country.
But the IES says the situation has become a twin challenge as the energy sector has also been hit by the shut down of Sunon Asogli Power Plant – an Independent Power Producer.
The Independent Power Producer (IPP) has locked horns with government over accumulated debt amounting to about $259 million. Efforts to get the government to pay the debt has proved futile leading to the shutdown of the plant the produces 560 megawatts (12-15%) of power to the national grid.
A statement by IES copied to The High Street Journal warned that Ghanaians, as well as businesses must prepare for a worsened situation as there are no timelines for Sunon Asogli to return online.
Reports further indicate that even pleas by the Ghana Grid Company to have the IPP return to operations were also unsuccessful.
“In case you are experiencing a “low-key dumsor” be prepared to see an extended version of same, due to government’s reluctance to act decisively on the root cause,” parts of the IES statement read.
IES further revealeed that “A new wave of potential extended intermittent power outages reminiscent of the infamous “dumsor” looms over the country following the recent shutdown of the 560 megawatt (MW) Sunon Asogli Power Plant which reliably supplies about 12-15% of the nation’s electricity. The absence the plant from the national grid is already evident.”
This twin challenge means that businesses such as cold stores, barbering saloons, printing presses, among other SMEs that heavily depend on the power supply must brace themselves for difficulties.
Large busineses that can also afford alternative power supplies must also brace themselves for increase cost of operations as there will be a surge in their fuel cost.
Sector players are calling on the government to act decisively in addressing these energy sector challenges to avert the impending economic difficulties.
Source:thehighstreetjournal.com