Power Ministry lied over Atuabo shutdown – Ghana Gas

Ghana National Gas Company Limited (Ghana Gas) has categorically stated the Power Ministry misled the public over circumstances leading to the shutdown of the Atuabo Gas Plant.

A statement from the Ministry of Power served notice that the “current increase in the quantum of load shedding” will linger on for a while because the Ghana National Gas Company’s plant at Atoabo has been shut down to “enable the African Middle East Investment (AMERI) Power Plant to be connected onto the gas supply system of Ghana Gas.”

“The AMERI Plant at Aboadze currently being installed, is expected to generate additional 250 MW into the National Interconnected Transmission Systems (NITS) when fully commissioned,” the statement signed by the ministry’s spokesperson Kweku Sersah-Johnson added.

It noted: “Engineers of both the Ghana National Gas Company Ltd (Ghana Gas) and AMERI are working round the clock to complete the connection of the gas line and to ameliorate the recent further decline in power supply in the country.”

However, in a counter statement, Ghana Gas said the Ministry created the impression that it was responsible for the increase in load shedding and “therefore, find the attempt by the Ministry of Power to mislead the public on this matter disingenuous and unhelpful.”

“We wish to state that Ghana Gas has no contract regarding the ongoing installation works by the African Middle East Investment (AMERI) power plant being installed at the Aboadze power enclave. However, because of the experience gained in pipelines construction over the past four years, Ghana Gas engineers are only assisting the VRA to connect the AMERI plant to its power systems,” a statement signed by Ghana Gas’ communications manager Alfred Ogbamey said.

It added: “On 12th November, 2015, Ghana Gas received a written request from the Volta River Authority, an agency under the Ministry of Power, to shut-down its processing and supply of lean gas to enable it (VRA) to connect the AMERI Plant to its “existing gas pipeline in the week of November 23-27, 2015.

“Consequently, Ghana Gas honoured the request and shut down Atuabo yesterday, 23rd November, 2015 to enable the VRA and the sector Ministry to tie the AMERI Plant onto the VRA facilities.

“The shutdown of the Atuabo Gas Processing Plant was, therefore, at the instance of the VRA, which claimed that it had made adequate arrangement for light crude oil to power its Aboadze Plant and avoid a shortfall in energy generation.

“Ghana Gas, therefore find the attempt by the Ministry of Power to mislead the public on this matter disingenuous and unhelpful.

“For the records, Ghana Gas does not have any challenge, whatsoever, with the Atuabo Gas Processing Plant. The Plant has been operational since Ghana’s first indigenous natural gas made its way from FPSO Kwame Nkrumah, through the 60-kilometre journey, to safely to land.”