Civil society organisations (CSOs) in Ghana’s energy sector are urging government to expedite the construction of a second Gas Processing Plant at Atuabo, warning that swift action is crucial to sustaining power generation and strengthening the country’s energy security.

The call follows a familiarisation tour of the existing Atuabo Gas Processing Plant in the Western Region by selected CSOs, including the Executive Secretary of the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC), Duncan Amoah.

A Strategic Energy Shift

According to Mr. Amoah, Ghana’s initial crude oil production years ago did not prioritise gas processing infrastructure, forcing the country to depend heavily on imported gas from Nigeria through the West African Gas Pipeline.

He recalled that supply disruptions often linked to payment challenges contributed to periods of power outages.

Today, however, Ghana processes its own gas at Atuabo, supplying thermal plants and helping stabilise electricity generation.

Describing the plant as a “game changer,” Mr. Amoah stressed that expanding capacity through Phase Two also known as GPP2   would significantly enhance Ghana’s energy independence.

He noted that completing the second plant could position Ghana to become fully self-reliant in Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) production, potentially eliminating the need for imports while increasing supply for thermal power generation.

COPEC is therefore urging government to ensure the project is delivered within the next 12 to 24 months.

Ghana Gas Engages Stakeholders

For its part, the Ghana National Gas Company says stakeholder engagement is central to its 2025–2026 corporate strategy.

Head of Corporate Communications, Kirk Richard Mensah, explained that for the first time since the company’s inception, Ghana Gas engaged civil society groups in Accra for extensive discussions on its operations and long-term direction before hosting them at the Atuabo facility.

He described the engagement as an effort to build transparency and ensure stakeholders understand the company’s short- to medium-term plans.

Among the priority projects under the current administration, he listed the second Gas Processing Plant (GPP2), the Takoradi–Tema interconnection pipeline, and a telecom compressor station.

Operational Readiness for Expansion

At the operational level, managers at Atuabo said the foundation for expansion is already in place.

Operations Manager at Atuabo, Albert Mensah-Tandoh, emphasised that beyond gas processing for electricity generation, the plant has helped eliminate LPG shortages and produces condensates, which are similar to petrol.

He maintained that constructing the second plant at Atuabo would be cost-effective, given the availability of land, infrastructure, technical expertise, and operational experience.

According to him, the team has gained valuable lessons from operating the first plant and is well-positioned to run both facilities in parallel using local expertise.

The Bigger Picture

Energy analysts say bringing Train Two on stream would not only reduce gas flaring and increase domestic LPG supply but also improve feedstock availability for thermal plants a critical factor in maintaining stable electricity supply.