The Institute for Energy Security (IES) says it is time to add on to Ghana’s energy capacity to prevent a power crisis (dumsor) in the near future.

According to the IES, a careful study of the current generation capacity shows that demand for power will soon overtake supply, creating a shortfall.

Speaking to Joy Business, the Executive Director of IES, Nana Amoasi VII explained that the country has already exceeded the planned surplus energy that was estimated to last until 2023.

“The existing generation capacity we have is less than 4,500 megawatts and going forward, demand will increase yet installed capacity as we see will be the same until it is upped with some form of urgency”, he warned.

He stressed that there is no need to delay in increasing the installed and generation capacity since the demand for power keeps increasing.

“We must work very fast at increasing our installed and generation capacity” he said.

Even though Ghana is seeking to rely on the Bridge Power project - a 400 megawatt liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)-fuelled combined-cycle power plant being developed in Tema; and the Pwalugu Multi-Purpose Dam, Nana Amoasi VII is however doubtful if the projects will come on time to avert a power crisis.

According to government, total installed capacity for existing plants in Ghana is 5,134 megawatt with a dependable capacity of 4,710 megawatts.

Meanwhile, thermal generation accounts for the largest share of the power generation, representing 66 percent, with hydro accounting for 33 percent.