Three major power plants in Ghana are on the verge of shutting down due to a $259 million debt owed by the government, the CEO of the Independent Power Producers (IPP), Dr. Elikplim Apetorgbor has warned.
The debt, attributed to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), threatens the nation’s energy supply, raising concerns about a possible return to the power outages known locally as “dumsor.”
Dr. Apetorgbor, speaking to Citi Business News on Tuesday, said the situation is critical and called on the government to act urgently to avert a crisis.
“I can confirm that all is not well. If there is no intervention before Friday, I can tell you that by Monday, three key power plants will be off the grid. It is a serious matter,” he warned.
The warning follows President Nana Akufo-Addo’s commissioning of the Bridge Power Project, which is intended to address energy shortages in the country. However, Dr. Apetorgbor dismissed assurances that the new project would end Ghana’s energy challenges.
“To say that the commissioning of this plant is going to put dumsor to rest—I find it difficult to relate,” he said.
He also expressed frustration over repeated unfulfilled assurances from the government regarding payments, emphasizing the IPPs’ firm stance on the issue.
The development has sparked fears of potential disruptions to energy supply in Ghana, should the plants go offline as predicted.
Source:TheDotNews