Ghana faces acute power cuts as Nigeria pulls plug on gas supply

Power outages are set to worsen in the country after Nigerian authorities announced that the country will stop gas supplies to Ghana.
The decision, which took effect from yesterday, follows labour unrest in Nigeria.
“The Nigerian authorities communicated this bad news to us this afternoon. We are working out emergency measures to forestall adverse effects on individuals and industry,” a senior official at the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum told the Daily Graphic.
“What the stoppage of gas flow to Ghana means is that the Asogli Power Plant will shut down because it runs only on gas,” the official said.
The Asogli Power Plant was augmenting Ghana’s energy needs with an average of 180 megawatts (MW).
“This is certainly not good because other power plants are operating below capacity due to maintenance schedules, delay in crude oil supply and other factors,” the source added.
Individuals and businesses have been facing intermittent supply of electricity for several months.
Ghana’s demand for electricity is between 1,800 and 2,000 MW, but it is targeting 5,000 MW by 2016.
It wants to have enough to export to other West African countries by the end of 2016.
Source: Daily Graphic