11th November 2023 8:27:58 AM
2 mins readMinister for Energy, Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh, has expressed concerns regarding a potential impact on electricity supply due to an impending shortage of gas for power generation.
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He attributed this issue to an over-reliance on gas plants, a departure from the historical reliance on liquid fuels for energy production.
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Dr. Prempeh elaborated that the nation is currently facing a dual challenge. The shift towards a predominantly gas-based energy system has rendered the power infrastructure susceptible, such that any disruption in gas supply could trigger the shutdown of all power generation systems, resulting in a nationwide blackout.
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“So that is why if people see lights out when they go out now, it is more extensive than previously because previously the liquid fuels were in the various thermal plants scattered around,” he noted.
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The Energy Minister stressed the significant challenge posed by the present scenario, wherein all power systems are interconnected through a sole gas pipeline. This is a departure from the past, where multiple dispersed thermal plants were fueled by various liquid fuels.
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“So it goes through the tubes that goes around. So when you have a major cut at one end, the devastation is horrendous and we don't have enough gas for our generation as we speak, we don't have enough gas,” he stressed.
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He noted that this issue is exacerbated by the country's limited gas reserves, compounded by its dependency on the West African Gas Pipeline. Any delays or failures in payment to the pipeline, he explained, restrict the nation's access to gas, exacerbating the existing power challenges.
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“So as we speak, this is a major challenge for us that from the West we have gas that we cannot put in because West African Gas Pipeline Company is not allowing us, it's restricting us and that's why sometimes we find that there are challenges with power networks,” Dr Prempeh stressed.
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Dr. Opoku Prempeh however highlighted the government's endeavors in handling the nation's power situation through power agreements.
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Government has signed two Power Purchasing Agreements (PPA) to bolster the country's power generation capacity by approximately 720 Mega Watts (MW).
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The agreements involve 370MW AKSA in Tema and 350MW AKSA in Kumasi, operating under the new PPA policy, which replaces the previous "Take or Pay" arrangement. This initiative not only ensures a prudent increase in power generation but also aims to enhance efficiency in both generation and distribution across the country.
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Despite the obstacles, he urged Ghanaians to adopt energy-efficient devices to conserve power, recognizing the hardships experienced during previous years of insufficient electricity supply.
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