Power sector players in crucial meeting tomorrow

Stakeholders in the power sector are billed to meet tomorrow to discuss the impact the shutdown of FPSO Kwame Nkrumah for planned maintenance will have on power generation in the country.

The Volta River Authority (VRA), Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo), Electricity Company of Ghana, and the Ghana National Gas Company (GNGC) are expected to attend the meeting.

The Finder can report that the meeting is necessary to put in place measures that would ensure that the shutdown does not have a negative impact on power generation.

The Jubilee partners, led by Tullow Ghana Limited, operator of the Jubilee field, yesterday announced that a planned shutdown of the FPSO Kwame Nkrumah would be undertaken from Sunday, March 20, 2016.

In a press release, the company said the 14-day shutdown is to allow for planned maintenance work to be undertaken on a key equipment of the FPSO.

According to the statement by the partners, the shutdown is essential to ensure the ongoing reliability and integrity of the FPSO.

In line with standard industry practice, there will be no oil or gas production from the Jubilee field during the 14-day period; this, the partners say, will ensure safety.

The Managing Director of Tullow Ghana Limited, Mr Charles Darku, said: “Our commitment is to adhere to international operational performance management standards to ensure the FPSO operates safely and efficiently at its optimal level.”

However, it was stated that the planned shutdown will not impact the projected average production for the year. The last major planned maintenance shutdown was in September 2013.