The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has attributed recent power outages in various parts of the country to limited gas supply to power producers.
It explained that, due to the gas supply challenges, all Asogli phase-1 units, Cenpower and Aksa power plants have shut down leading to generation shortfall.
A statement issued by the Communications Unit of ECG in Accra on July 7, said, the gas supply challenges emanate from a power failure at Atuabo Gas Processing Plant (GPP) and a West African Gas Pipeline (WAPCO) technical challenge.
“This is due to gas supply challenges emanating from a power failure at Atuabo Gas Processing Plant (GPP) and a WAPCO technical challenge.
As a result of the above, all Asogli phase-1 units, Cenpower and Aksa power plants have shut down leading to generation shortfall,” the statement added.
It therefore, apologised to all ECG customers adding that, the company was working with all stakeholders including Ghana National Gas Company to resolve the challenge.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Grid Company Ltd (GRIDCo), has announced that the supply challenges had created a gas supply gap of 650MW at peak time, a situation which would limit power production for onward distribution
“There is a deficit in thermal power generation due to limited gas supply from the Atuabo Gas Processing Plant (GPP) and the West African Gas Pipeline (WAPCo).
This has created a supply gap of 650MW at peak time which will affect consumers in some parts of the country,” it stated in a statement.
All effort, it noted, were being made to restore gas supply from Atuabo, adding that as the situation improves, power would be restored to affected customers.
Meanwhile the West African Gas Pipeline Company Limited (WAPCo) in reaction, says it has no technical issues and is available to transport gas.
“WAPCo wishes to set the record straight that we did not have any technical issues and our facilities were, and still are, fully available to deliver gas,” a release signed by General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Dr Isaac Adjei Doku, on Saturday added.
It noted that, GRIDCo issued a press release citing limited gas supply from WAPCo and from the Electricity Company of Ghana, and that, WAPCo’s technical challenges has contributed to the power challenge experienced in Ghana, on Friday night.
“WAPCo transports gas based on its agreements with Gas shippers. These shippers purchase Gas from Gas suppliers, transport the gas via WAPCo pipelines, and sell the natural gas to Gas offtakers (mainly power companies).
“When the agreed volume of gas is made available, WAPCo dutifully transports it to the shipper’s customers. The challenge yesterday (on Friday) was that the Ghana National Gas Company’s plant at Atuabo went down, and therefore, there was no gas available for WAPCo to transport,” the release concluded.
BY TIMES REPORTER
