Annual electricity exports to neighbouring countries increased by 26 percent in 2020.
This is according to the Energy Commission, regulator of the country’s electricity, natural gas and renewable energy industries.
Per official data released by the Commission, electricity exports increased from 1,430 GWh in 2019 to 1,801 GWh in 2020.
“The tremendous growth in exports has been driven by increased supply to neighbouring countries particularly Burkina Faso,” noted the Commission.
The rapidly rising exports is also being fuelled by overcapacity in the sector with the government looking for ways to dispose of excess electricity generation that is estimated to cost $500 million annually.
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Power exports over the last 4 years have risen with power imports by Ghana declining steadily over the same period.
Ghana’s power import for 2020 was 58 GWh, the highest in six years.
Meanwhile, demand for electricity in the country continues to increase, recording a growth rate of 10.2 percent last year despite the pandemic.
According to the Commission, total energy including losses consumed in the country last year was 19,717 GWh as against 17,887 GWh in 2019.
For 2021, the commission is projecting a generation capacity of 5,328.1 MW, with a dependable capacity of 4,879 MW with the bulk of the dependable capacity being generated from thermal sources.
System peak demand, on the other hand, is also projected at 3,304 MW by the Commission.
