The country's power grid is on the brink of a major crisis as the government urgently requires nearly $90 million to secure fuel for thermal power plants, according to a report by the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo).

The report warns of potential power outages, popularly known as “dumsor,” if immediate action is not taken.

GRIDCo’s report highlights that the funds are needed to purchase liquid fuel, such as light crude oil, to keep thermal plants in Tema operational and meet rising electricity demand.

The shortage stems from a generation capacity deficit following a pigging exercise by the West African Gas Pipeline Company (WAPCO).

This maintenance activity temporarily disrupted natural gas supplies, leaving thermal plants without sufficient fuel.

To address the imminent crisis, GRIDCo has outlined several measures to stabilise the grid, including:

1. Rescheduling Maintenance: Revising planned shutdowns of generators to avoid overlapping with the WAPCO maintenance period.

2. Alternative Fuels: Procuring sufficient light crude oil or other liquid fuels to replace natural gas in thermal power generation.

3. Load Management: Considering load-shedding as a last resort to stabilize the grid if power shortages persist.

Pipeline Maintenance Delayed to 2025

The crisis was exacerbated by the maintenance of gas pipelines from Nigeria to Ghana by WAPCO, initially scheduled for October 2024 but postponed to January 2025 by the previous government.

This delay left the system vulnerable to disruptions during the maintenance period.

“There is a deficit in generation capacity during the period of the WAPCO pigging exercise. Therefore, it is necessary to procure liquid fuel to operate thermal plants in Tema to meet demand,” the report stated.

GRIDCo stated that $89.90 million is urgently required to avert the looming power outages and ensure grid stability.

The report warns that failure to act swiftly could lead to prolonged power outages, severely disrupting economic activities and public services.

Industries, businesses, and households may face significant challenges if the government does not secure funding and implement the recommended measures.

Stakeholders have called for expedited government intervention to raise the necessary funds and execute GRIDCo’s recommendations.

The urgency of the situation has sparked nationwide concern, with many fearing a return to the dreaded era of frequent and unpredictable power cuts.

As the clock ticks, the onus is on the government to act decisively and prevent Ghana from slipping into a full-blown power crisis.