There may be a window of opportunity for Ghana to avert a power crisis early next year if the incoming Nana Akufo-Addo government can secure reliable gas supply from the Tweneboa Enyenra Ntomme (TEN) field, increase the stock of fuel, and also pay N-Gas it arrears, the African Center for Energy Policy(ACEP) has disclosed.
This follows a scheduled shutdown of the FPSO Kwame Nkrumah which provides 90 million cubic feet of gas for power generation by April.
Per ACEP’s calculation, the country will have a deficit of 40 million cubic feet of gas since the FPSO Atta Mills can produce only 50 million cubic feet of gas.
Speaking to Citi Business News, the Energy Quality Advisor at ACEP, Dr. Ishmael Ackah warned that the incoming government must take the pointers seriously.
According to him, efforts must be directed at sustaining gas supply from Nigeria and the stock is maintained to power Ghana’s thermal plants.
“If the FPSO is shutdown and we get gas from TEN Field, what it means is that TEN is giving us about 50mmscf. What it means is that we will have a deficit about 40mmscf since TEN can give about 50mmscf while FPSO Kwame Nkrumah was giving us 90mmscf,” he said.
“If we don’t pay Nigeria and by that time Nigeria is still not supplying, we will have challenges. But if by that time we pay Nigeria and we have money to get other fuel for the plants, then we will not have any major challenge. We need fuel and light crude oil in stock for some of the plants. We need enough fuel,” he added.
Dr. Ackah was of the view that the coming onboard of the TEN field though timely, cannot solve the whole situation, hence efforts must be made immediately to assure constant supply of gas from Nigeria.
“If TEN is onboard and Nigeria is supplying the gas then it will not be any major challenge unless something untoward happens, before we could have dumsor”
He stated that another energy crisis will have dire consequences on the economy, a situation the incoming government cannot afford.
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By: Lawrence Segbefia/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana
