Revealed: Generation Shortfall Causing Recent Power Outages In Ghana

It has emerged that deficit in power generation is the cause of recent power outages being experienced in some parts of Ghana.

Some residents in Ghana especially those in the capital, have been witnessing regular power cuts and have been wondering what could be the cause of the current situation.

However, credible information available to energynewsafrica.com indicates that most of the generation plants are producing below capacity because of non-availability of fuel to keep the power plants running.

The West African country has installed capacity of about 4750 MW, but currently peak demand is about 2,700 MW.

Regrettably, available figures show a generation deficit of more than 600 megawatts, forcing distributors to ration power in parts of Accra where demand is the highest.

Karpower, which has a capacity of 450 MW, is producing 16MW, Aksa, with a capacity of 360 MW, is producing 45MW and AMERI, with a capacity of 250MW, is currently producing 195.32MW .

The Akosombo Hydro Dam is also said to be running just two of its six turbines at 500MW, about half its total capacity of 1020MW.

The Bui Hydro Dam is also currently producing 3.2MW out of its 400MW capacity.

It will be recalled that six Independent Power Producers (IPPs) issued threats that they would be compelled to shut down their plants within seven days, if huge sums of monies owed them by PDS and ECG were not paid.

In a statement, the IPPs said the lack of funds was making it difficult for them to procure fuel to keep their plants running.

Sources within the IPPs have confirmed the shortfall in power generation to energynewsafrica.com.

Our checks indicate that GNPC, which issues guarantee that allows Litasco to procure fuel for onward supply to Karpower, has been unable to do so this time around because GNPC does not have the funds to provide the guarantee.