The Institute for Energy Security (IES) has issued a warning that Ghana may soon have to ramp up electricity imports to stabilize its energy supply, following the shutdown of the Sunon Asogli Power Plant due to unpaid debts by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
Sunon Asogli Power (Ghana) Limited, which operates a 560 MW power plant, halted operations, citing ECG’s failure to settle its outstanding obligations. The IES revealed that Ghana had already been relying on imported electricity for the past four weeks.
In a discussion with Citi News, Nana Amoasi VII, the Executive Director of IES, highlighted the urgency of addressing the country’s energy challenges. He pointed out that, despite Sunon Asogli generating over 400 megawatts daily, Ghana had been supplementing its supply with electricity from Côte d’Ivoire.
He noted that the impact of the plant’s shutdown hasn’t been strongly felt yet due to favorable weather conditions, but warned that as the country moves out of the wet season, the strain on the power system will become more apparent.
“Last year, on December 4th, Sunon Asogli had a similar shutdown, and the Ministry intervened quickly,” Nana Amoasi VII said. “However, this time, we’ve already started importing power and will likely need to negotiate with Sunon Asogli. But solving ECG’s financial issues will require more than a quick fix—it demands greater investment, improved operational competence, and reduced political interference.”
The IES cautions that without sustainable solutions, Ghana’s energy supply may remain vulnerable in the coming months.
SOURCE: http://dew360.net
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