Ghana Faces Deepened Power Crisis as Major Energy Producers Scale Down Operations
Ghana’s energy sector is bracing for escalating challenges as major electricity producers, including Karpowership Energy, AKSA Energy, and Cenit Energy Limited, have significantly scaled down their power supply starting today, November 25, 2024.
The development raises fears of widespread blackouts for businesses and households, particularly as the festive season draws near.
Reports indicate that Amandi Energy and Karpowership are now entirely offline, while AKSA Energy has slashed its output from 370MW to a mere 58MW. This reduction is expected to create a power shortfall of approximately 450MW, further straining the national grid.
The situation compounds an already precarious state of affairs, with other Independent Power Producers (IPPs) such as Sunon Asogli and Amandi Energy halting operations. Sunon Asogli cites non-payment of debts by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) as the reason for its shutdown, while the government claims Amandi Energy is undergoing indefinite maintenance.
Last week, Dr. Elikplim Kwabla Apetorgbor, CEO of the Chamber of Independent Power Producers, sounded an alarm, warning that three additional power plants could shut down if immediate steps are not taken to settle the mounting debts owed to IPPs.
The financial impasse between government and the IPPs has exacerbated the nation’s recurring power crisis, commonly referred to as dumsor, disrupting economic activities and creating uncertainty in the energy supply chain.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that ECG is intensifying efforts to resolve the debt crisis with sources revealing that the company has moved from a monthly to a weekly payment schedule to address arrears owed to Sunon Asogli and other power producers.
With the festive season on the horizon, stakeholders are closely monitoring these developments to determine if the measures will stabilize power supply and avert a looming full-blown energy crisis.
