'Dumsor' looms as 3 power producers scale down their electricity supply

Three energy producers, Karpowership Energy, AKSA Energy, and Cenit Energy Limited, have cut down their electricity supply as of Monday, November 25, 2024.

According to a report filed by Citi Business News, Karpowership and one other Independent Power Producer are off the national grid, while AKSA Energy has reduced its load from 370MW to 58MW.

Market watchers have said this scale-down will create a shortfall of approximately 450MW on the national grid.

This decrease in power supply may lead to intermittent power supply and potential blackouts ahead of the Yuletide.

Meanwhile, the Executive Director of the Institute for Energy Security (IES), Nana Amoasi VII, has urged the government to promptly address the needs of Independent Power Producers (IPPs) to avoid any shutdown of the power plants.

This plea comes after the government failed to fulfil its promises to pay the $259 million debt owed to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).

In an interview with Citi Business News, Nana Amoasi VII stated, “We have received information at the IES that they are considering such action. There is concern that if action is not taken now, they may lose the opportunity to persuade the next government to pay them, leading to their frustration being expressed.”

“We are confident that they will follow through on their threat, and the government should take their warning seriously and act promptly to prevent any power outages,” he added.

The Chamber of Independent Power Producers Ghana, on November 19, 2024, hinted that three of its members are at risk of shutting down due to outstanding debts.

If this occurs, the total number of IPPs that have closed down will be four, including Sunon-Asogli.

Failure to address this issue will result in power shortages and worsen the energy deficits in Ghana’s power sector.

SA/OGB

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