Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) in a recent report has highlighted an urgent need for an additional 129 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscf/d) of natural gas to meet the country’s thermal generation demand in 2025.
The 2024 Electricity Supply Plan projects a gas demand of 544 mmscf/d for thermal power generation in 2025. However, current gas availability comprising from ENI, Jubilee/TEN, and N-Gas totals just 415 mmscf/d, leaving a significant shortfall.
GRIDCo’s report underscores the critical role of natural gas in powering thermal plants, which form the backbone of Ghana’s electricity grid.
The looming shortfall coincides with the scheduled “pigging” maintenance of the West African Gas Pipeline in early 2025, a move that is expected to further disrupt gas flow.
Without this supply Ghana may face widespread power outages and energy insecurity but they emphasized the need for alternative solutions.
The report calls for urgent action, urging stakeholders to secure additional gas contracts and expedite ongoing power projects. GRIDCo suggests that timely completion of units at the Anwomaso Thermal Power Station, AKSA thermal plant, and the CENIT power plant in Kumasi could help alleviate the energy burden.
“There will also be a need to secure an additional 129 mmscd of natural gas supply (or equivalent volumes of liquid fuels) in order to have enough fuel for thermal generation in Ghana in 2025”, the report read.
“The 2024 Electricity Supply Plan projects gas demand for thermal generation in 2025 to be 544 mmscd. However, availability gas volumes total 415 mmscd (i.e., ENI = 245 mmscd; Jubilee/TEN = 100 mmscd; N-Gas = 70 mmscd”.
“This additional capacity could be realized from the timely completion of installation and commissioning of the last four (4) units at the Anwhomaso Thermal Power Station, the AKSA thermal power plant, or the CENIT power plant project all currently under construction in Kumasi”.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Deborah Amuzu
