Another power crisis is looming

Massive power cuts are in the offing as the country’s power producers are unable to produce enough to meet the peak demand of 2,700 MW.

Figures obtained by Joy News show a generation deficit of more than 600 Megawatts, forcing distributors to ration power in parts of Accra where demand is highest.

It is speculated the problem is the result of the inability of the power producers to raise money to buy fuel.

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 current producing195.32M.

Akosombo is running just two of its six turbines at 500 MW – about half its total capacity of 1020 MW. Bui is producing 3.2 MW out of its 400 MW capacity.

Meanwhile, some power companies remain under heavy debt and have threatened to shut down within a week if their debts remain unpaid.

The Chamber of Independent Power Producers and Bulk consumers (CIPDIB) told Joy News if some $700 million debt owed its members is not paid in eight days, it will plunge Ghana into darkness.

Explaining the situation, the Chief Executive of CIPDIB, Eliplim Kwabla Apetorgbor, said the decision to cut power supply has been necessitated by debts they have incurred in running their operations.

These operations, he said include fueling and maintaining their plants and paying workers.

Attempts to retrieve these debts have been met with stonewalling from PDS. They have also failed to respond to their demand letters or invitations to a meeting to discuss outstanding payments.

These claims are being contested.

The Director of Public Relations at the Power Distribution Service (PDS) has denied claims the service owes Independent Power Producers huge sums for power supplied.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, William Boateng also denied claims that PDS has failed to honour its financial obligations to the IPPs since it took over the distribution of power from the Electricity Company of Ghana in March 2019.

Director of Communications at PDS said the PDS has no contract with the Independent Power Producers. They, therefore, owe the IPPs no obligation to respond to their correspondents or make payments to them.

“Mr. Apetorgbor got it wrong there,” Boateng said.

Explaining this, Mr. Boateng pointed out that PDS has a contract with ECG and it has not reneged on it.
“We have honoured all our concessional obligations to ECG.  ECG gives us bulk bills and we pay every week,” he pointed out.

Source: Ghana | Myjoyonline.com