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The Executive Director for energy policy think tank, African Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), Mr. Benjamin Boakye has said the ability to stabilize energy is a political decision.
Speaking in an interview with Nana Adjoa Owusu on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm he said the stability of the sector would also depend on the independence of the PURC as well as measures that would be in place to manage the sector.
Mr. Boakye said it takes political will to manage the sector and politicians must be held accountable for the policies, and promises they give to Ghanaians in the area of stability in the energy sector.
According to him, the energy sector also has the potential to transform the economy so government should institute the right structures to make gains from the sector.
He said the government could only be encouraged to put in place the needed measures to maintain stability.
He was reacting to a question following a statement issued by ACEP on the need for the PURC to communicate the tariff which the Commission announced in February would take effect from 1st July 2019, following the mandatory major tariff review consultations in January this year.
PURC had said its decision to postpone the announcement of the tariff to July was due to critical emerging issues in the sector, which are expected to affect the final tariff setting.
Amongst others, the emerging issues are related to the planned relocation of the Karpowership Plant resulting in fuel switch savings from Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) to Natural Gas.
The statement said ACEP therefore calls on the Commission to communicate to consumers what its intentions are, as to whether it will extend the effective date of the tariff or immediately announce the tariff, to allow consumers time to absorb and adjust to the changes, whatever that may be.”
