Ghana’s state-owned electricity company has announced a three-week power cut due to a reduced gas supply from Nigeria.
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) stated on Thursday that the reduction began on Wednesday, owing to maintenance work by a gas supplier in Nigeria. This has decreased power generation capacity across Ghana.
To manage electricity distribution, ECG has implemented load shedding. Their statement reads: “The Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) inform the public about a load management program due to a gas supply shortfall from Nigeria. This is necessary to maintain system stability during the three-week maintenance period of the gas supply infrastructure.”
ECG reassured the public that it is working with other power sector stakeholders to optimize resources and minimize the impact on consumers. The goal is to ensure that essential services remain uninterrupted during this period.
WAPCo Reduction in Gas Volumes: Earlier on Wednesday, the West African Gas Pipeline Company Limited (WAPCo) announced a reduction in gas volumes available for transportation. A producer in Nigeria has shut down its facility for maintenance, leading to decreased gas supply for WAPCo to transport to customers in Togo, Benin, and Ghana.
WAPCo’s statement reads: “One of the producers of natural gas WAPCo transports from Nigeria has shut down its facility for a three-week maintenance, resulting in a decrease available to transport for customers in Togo, Benin, and Ghana. The current situation is entirely out of WAPCo’s control. We expect normalcy to return after the maintenance activities.”
What You Should Know: The West African Gas Pipeline starts at the Itoki Natural Gas Terminal in Ogun State, Nigeria, and travels through Agido near Badagry in Lagos, passing 33 Nigerian communities to reach the Lagos Beach Compressor Station. From there, it runs offshore, delivering gas to Western Ghana in Takoradi, with delivery laterals extending to Cotonou in Benin, Lome in Togo, and Tema in Ghana.
The West African Gas Pipeline Company Limited operates a 678-kilometer pipeline transporting natural gas from Nigerian fields to markets in Benin, Togo, and Ghana.
