WAPCo cuts Nigeria gas to Ghana till March -Threatens Dumsor

Ghana is tottering yet again on the edge of a potential power crisis (Dumsor) because from today Monday, January 20, gas supply from Nigeria feeding the Tema Power enclave would be cut.
 
The West African Gas Pipeline Company Limited (WAPCo), operator of the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP), says the cut in gas supply to Ghana is to make way for   routine maintenance and inspection of its off-shore pipeline.
 
A press release signed by the General Manager, Corporate Affairs of WAPCo, Kwasi Prempeh, explained that the process dubbed ‘pigging’, will interrupt supplies to other West African countries, Lome and Cotonou.
 
“Apart from cleaning the pipeline of debris, pigging will provide information on the condition of the pipeline to inform decisions on its effective maintenance to prolong its lifespan and to improve safety of our operation. Effluents from the pigging will be discharged in Takoradi where WAPCo has arranged for it to be managed in line with the Ghana Environmental Protection Agency-prescribed processes and procedures,” the statement further stated.
 
A statement issued by the Energy Ministry says power producers at the Aboadze Thermal enclave including Karpowershsip some of which largely depend on supplies from Ghana Gas have been served advance notice to rump up production to augment the shortfall from the Asogli and other plants at Tema.
Head of Communications of the Ministry of Energy, Nana Kofi Oppong-Damoah, in the statement to the media, said admitted the consequential impact and said it is collaborating with the Ministry of Finance and other key players in the Ghana’s gas-to-power sector to make provision to mitigate the impact on the country’s grid system and ensure reliable and stable power supply.