Looming Power Crisis averted as Mahama’s swift action secures emergency Fuel supplies

The John Mahama administration has made a swift move to avert an imminent power crisis inherited from the previous Akufo-Addo led NPP government. A committee led by Julius Debrah, Chief of Staff, has successfully purchased emergency fuel from Nigeria and other sources to replace the gas supply cut from the West African Gas Pipeline Company Limited (WAPCo).

This move comes as WAPCo is set to undergo planned maintenance from January 20 to February 16, 2025, which would have affected gas supply to power generation plants in the Tema enclave.

The Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) had estimated that approximately US$89 million was needed to purchase liquid fuel to run thermal plants and meet demand during the maintenance period.

According to the GRIDCo report, “A total of US$89.90 million is required to purchase liquid fuel to run thermal plants in order to meet demand for the period.” This significant investment underscores the government’s commitment to ensuring a stable power supply for the nation.

Furthermore, the GRIDCo report projected that system demand would grow steadily to an annual peak of 4,415.42MW by the last quarter of 2025. This growth in demand highlights the need for proactive measures to ensure that the country’s power infrastructure can meet the increasing needs of its citizens.

Interestingly, the planned maintenance was initially scheduled for October 2024 but was postponed to this year at the request of the Ministry of Energy.

The GRIDCo report noted, “This maintenance was originally scheduled for October 2024 but had to be rescheduled at the request of the Ministry of Energy.” This postponement would have left the country vulnerable to power outages, but the swift action by the John Mahama administration has mitigated this risk.

The report further emphasized the need to procure liquid fuel to run thermal plants in Tema to meet demand. It stated, “There will accordingly be the need to secure additional generation resources with dependable capacity of at least 244.66 MW by the last quarter of the year to ensure sustained supply adequacy by the end of the year.”

This underscores the importance of proactive planning and investment in the power sector to ensure a reliable and sustainable supply of electricity.

The John Mahama administration’s prompt action to address the impending power crisis has demonstrated its commitment to the well-being of the nation. Indeed, by securing emergency fuel supplies and investing in the power infrastructure, the government has taken significant steps to ensure a stable and reliable power supply for Ghana.

By Lawrence Odoom