Atuabo shutdown will not affect power supply

The Volta River Authority (VRA) has hinted that the planned shutdown of Atuabo Gas Plant scheduled for January 15, 2016 for routine maintenance works will not affect its ability to produce power.

The Ghana Gas Company has announced the shutdown of the gas processing plant for routine maintenance works on the January 15, 2016 and is expected to last two weeks.

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.

Meanwhile, there are fears the move could negatively affect the current load-shedding programme since most of producers rely on gas.

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.

VRA has been able settle part of the over GH¢190 million Ghana it owed the Ghana gas company.

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