Dumsor Bites as Government Acknowledges Issues
Energy Minister John Jinapor has acknowledged that the country is currently facing power supply challenges.
For the past few weeks, the erratic power supply, commonly referred to as “dumsor,” has heavily impacted parts of the country, particularly Accra and Kumasi.
Speaking on Ekosiisen on Asempa FM on Tuesday, February 20, Jinapor explained that maintenance work by the West African Gas Pipeline Company Limited (WAPCo) has further exacerbated the situation.
To temporarily address the issue, he mentioned that a substantial amount of fuel has been purchased.
“We inherited a very weak energy sector. Ghanaians should bear with us as we work to resolve these problems permanently. The current erratic supply situation is expected to stabilize within two weeks,” he stated.
WAPCo Progresses with Maintenance
Meanwhile, WAPCo’s offshore maintenance activities are moving forward steadily. The company has reported significant advancements from both the pipeline cleaning and inspection team and the valve replacement team.
The team responsible for replacing the subsea valves is currently at its first location, where divers are preparing to carry out the replacements. Onshore, the cleaning and inspection team has launched the fourth Pipeline Inspection Gauge (PIG), a caliper pig, and is eager to gather valuable data on the internal conditions of the offshore pipeline.
“We understand the critical nature of our infrastructure to the countries we serve, and we take this responsibility seriously. We are committed to safely completing these maintenance activities on schedule, so we can resume safe and reliable gas transportation services to our customers in Benin, Ghana, and Togo,” said Ing. Benoni Owusu Ayeh, WAPCo’s Operations and Maintenance Superintendent for Western Operations, overseeing the company’s operations in Togo and Ghana.
In addition to the pipeline cleaning, inspection, and subsea valve replacement projects, WAPCo is also undertaking various ancillary works at its facilities in Benin, Ghana, Nigeria, and Togo. These maintenance activities are scheduled for completion by March 2, 2025.
