Institute for Energy Security (IES) has cautioned that the government may soon be forced to import additional power to compensate for the shortfall in local energy production.
This comes after Sunon Asogli Power (Ghana) Limited announced the closure of its 560 MW power plant due to the Electricity Company of Ghana’s (ECG) failure to settle outstanding payments.
According to the IES, Ghana has already been importing electricity for the past four weeks, even prior to the plant’s shutdown.
Speaking to Citi News, IES Executive Director Nana Amoasi VII stressed the urgent need for sustainable solutions to ensure a stable energy supply in the country.
“Over the last four weeks, we have been importing power, particularly from Cote d’Ivoire. We were importing power at the time that Sunon Asogli was generating, and daily, they do more than 400 megawatts.
Just that we have not realised the impact or seen the impact of the shutdown because of the weather.
“But now that we are getting out of the wet weather, the impact may be felt in the coming days.
You will remember that last year around December 4th, they [Sunon Asogli] shutdown for the first time and the ministry intervened swiftly, but this time around they are choosing to start with an importation [of power] and probably go to the deck and meet Sunon Asogli.
“But I think we must start from somewhere, but I don’t believe in two, three months, ECG can address their problems. It requires more of an investment into their operation, more competence as well, and less political interference to address some of these issues.”