The Volta River Authority (VRA) has indicated that the planned shutdown of Atuabo gas plant will not worsen the current power crises. 

The Ghana Gas Company over the weekend announced the shutdown of the gas processing plant for routine maintenance works that is expected to last two weeks. 

The gas processing plant would be shutdown on  January 15, 2016.

There are fears the move could negatively affect the current load-shedding program since most of producers rely on gas.

Sources close to the VRA has indicated that the decision by the Ghana Gas Company  to cut the daily supply of about 115 million standard Cubic feet of natural gas, will not affect its ability to produce power.

The Aboadize thermal plant primarily depends on the gas from Ghana gas  to generate over 600 Mega Watts of power –fueling fears that the planned shutdown of Atuabo could hinder VRA’s ability to generate power.

However checks with engineers on the ground at the thermal plants reveal there is enough  crude oil to last for about the next three months.

So consumers can be assured that the load-shedding will not get worse, despite  the two weeks shutdown of the Atubo Gas processing plant .

Joy Business is also learning that VRA has been able settle part of the  over 190 million Ghana cedis it owed  the Ghana gas company. 

The debt nearly crippled the company when it had challenges in meeting it s insurance obligations – a development that could have resulted in the closure of the plant.