As earlier threatened of a possible shutdown in power generation over some $1.4 billion unpaid debts by Government, Independent Power Producers (IPPs) in the country have finally decided to carry out the many months old threat.
Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber of Independent Power Producers and Bulk Consumers (CIPDiB), Elikplim Kwablah Apetorgbor, in a signed letter to the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) and copied to the Ministry of Energy, noted that IPPs will in the coming days indefinitely withdraw its power generation services to the company for transmission across the country.
The action, according to the letter made available to norvanreports, follows demand on the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and Government of Ghana (GoG) to settle at least 80 per cent of its overdue debts – $1 billion – as a matter of urgency and priority.
“The respective Central Control Rooms (CCR) of IPPs are expected to communicate with GRIDCo’s Systems Control Centre,” read an excerpt of the letter.
Details of the letter
Independent Power Producers (IPPS) have for some time now been clamouring for the payment of some $1.4 billion debt owed them by the State.
IPPs have on several occasions noted that, they will not be able to guarantee power supply to State-owned power distribution company, Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), should Government fail to redeem its debts.
In an earlier statement issued by Mr Apetorgbor, in July this year, Government’s cumulative indebtedness is compelling them to contract costly loans to sustain their generations.
Adding the situation is grim and that there is a real danger of IPPs shutting down their plants if the situation was not resolved in the immediate term.
