Power crisis ends first quarter of 2015 – Jinapor

The frequent power outages in Ghana will end in the first quarter of 2015, according to the Deputy Energy Minister John Abdulai Jinapor.

Briefing Parliament on the current energy crisis in the country Thursday, Jinapor said a lot is being done at the various thermal generation plants to offset the energy deficit.

The young oil-producing country is at the moment grappling with power supply as citizens enjoy electricity for less than 24 hours in a day and sometimes have to endure 48 hours blackout.

Jinapor told Members of Parliament the Mahama-led administration is working feverishly to reduce the power deficit to the barest minimum or eliminate it.

According to him, Ghana is in talks with West African giant Nigeria for more gas to power thermal generation plants, and the coming on board of the Atuabo Gas Processing Plant will help ease the crisis.

The Plant is expected to be commissioned next month after which it will start commercial operation.

Also, the Takoradi International Company’s (TICO) expansion project and that of Tema are on course to add more power to the national grid. He added that the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) government is in talks with independent power suppliers as well to lessen the load on the existing ones.

The government is also in the process of bringing on board a power ship in 2015 that will generate close to 450 megawatts of power.