Dumsor Is Coming, As GRIDCo Announces Loadshedding in Oti, Volta

The Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) which claimed the phenomena of power instability, aka ‘dumsor,’ are behind Ghana has put out a load shedding timetable that essentially signals the repeat of dumsor to some parts of the country.

The timetable shows power rationing from 6 am to 6 pm daily across the Volta Region and Oti Region, starting from March 18, 2021 to March 21, 2021.

“The Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) has requested the Electricity Company of Ghana Ltd to interrupt power supply from Thursday 18th March to Monday, 21st March 2021,” GRIDCo said in a statement seen by Whatsup News.

The power distributor says the rationing in the Volta and Oti Regions is to allow it to undertake repair works on transformers that supply power to the regions.

However, critics have noted the subtle way power rationing is creeping back into the country, as some part of the country have been experiencing erratic power cuts in the past couple of months.

Last week, the entire country was plunged into darkness in what GRIDCo claimed it was not sure what the problem was.

Industry watchers think the distribution challenges are due to infrastructural deficiencies as well as massive debts owed to Independent Power Producers (IPP).

A statement signed by the, the Chief Executive Officer of GRIDCo, Mr Jonathan Amoako-Baah alluded to the challenges faced by the power ditributor.

The statement reads: “Overall, it is undeniable that there is enough generating capacity to meet the country’s demand. Ghana’s system peak demand is close to 3,200MW with an installed capacity of 5,300MW – this means there’s enough capacity to more than meet demand. Some intermittent outages are to be expected on the grid in the coming months due to ongoing projects (the Pokuase and Kasoa substations and other transmission line works across the country).” 

“In the weeks to follow, GRIDCo and ECG, in partnership with the firms working on the key projects, will adequately inform the public on the outage plans required for completion of the respective works in good time.”

“Let me say this: “Dumsor” is not coming back. Indeed, the nature of the power system value chain, makes that impossible. As a crucial part of the entire value chain. GRIDCo wants to assure the country and all related stakeholders that none of the key participants in the value chain is resting on their oars….” Mr. Amoako-Baah wrote.

But critics are taking that assurance with a pinch of salt.