Several regions in Ghana and other West African countries are currently experiencing power outages due to a disruption in gas supply from Nigeria. This issue stems from maintenance work being carried out by a major Nigerian gas producer, which has temporarily ceased operations for a three-week period. As a result, the West African Gas Pipeline Company Limited (WAPCo) in Accra has reported a significant reduction in available gas volumes for transportation to Togo, Benin, and Ghana. WAPCo has stressed that this reduction is entirely beyond their control.
Despite these challenges, WAPCo continues to transport gas from Ghana’s Western Region to areas like Tema, albeit at reduced volumes. They anticipate a return to normal operations once the maintenance activities are completed, though the precise timeline for full restoration remains contingent upon the completion of repairs in Nigeria.
Consequently, the affected countries are facing notable electricity supply difficulties. The Ghana Grid Company Limited and the Electricity Company of Ghana issued a joint statement acknowledging power interruptions in various regions due to reduced gas supply since June 12, 2024. They attributed this reduction to maintenance work by a Nigerian gas supplier, which is expected to last three weeks. This maintenance has led to a decrease in Ghana’s overall power generation capacity, potentially requiring load management measures during this period.
GRIDCo and ECG expressed regret for the inconvenience caused and assured the public of their collaboration with other stakeholders to optimize available resources and minimize the impact on electricity consumers. The West African Gas Pipeline Company Limited, which owns and operates the bi-directional West African Gas Pipeline system, plays a critical role in regional energy infrastructure by facilitating natural gas distribution across West Africa, particularly in Ghana and its neighboring countries.
