The Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) have announced a temporary shutdown of some thermal power plants in Tema, citing disruptions in gas supply from the West Africa Gas Pipeline Company Limited (WAPCo).
In a joint statement released on Thursday, December 12, the two entities explained that the interruption was due to operational challenges at WAPCo’s Tema Regulatory & Metering Station. This has resulted in a significant shortfall in power generation, necessitating limited load management in some parts of the country.
The statement attributed the shutdown to operational upsets at WAPCo’s Lagos Beach Compressor Station, where larger-than-expected volumes of liquids and debris were received. These unforeseen circumstances have affected the transmission of natural gas to power the thermal plants in Tema.
GRIDCo and ECG assured the public that efforts are underway to resolve the issue promptly. “We are optimistic that WAPCo will address the challenge and restore gas supply soon. Once this is achieved, power supply will be restored to all affected areas,” the statement said.
Acknowledging the inconvenience caused by the situation, GRIDCo and ECG apologized to customers and urged the public to bear with them as they work to stabilize the situation.
The shutdown underscores the vulnerability of Ghana’s power supply system to external disruptions, particularly those involving critical gas infrastructure. It also highlights the need for enhanced measures to mitigate such risks and ensure reliable energy delivery to consumers.
Story by: Mercy Addai Turkson
