At least two Independent Power Producers (IPPs), key contributors to the national electricity supply, have shut down operations due to challenges related to the government’s inability to pay them for the power they have supplied.
Sunon Asogli power plant ceased operations in early October, and more recently, Amandi Power Plant has also halted production. These shutdowns have exacerbated the country’s power supply issues, leading to frequent outages, commonly referred to as dumsor.
However, the acting Managing Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Ing. David Asamoah, clarified that Amandi’s shutdown was not due to unpaid debts but because of scheduled internal maintenance.
“Amandi has gone off not because we owe them, but because they are undertaking their annual maintenance, which is usually conducted in November,” he said during an interview on Joy News’ Newsfile on Saturday, November 23.
Ing. Asamoah explained that the ECG had attempted to negotiate with Amandi to delay the maintenance, but this was not possible due to insurance constraints.
“We engaged with them, but their management explained that postponing the maintenance would void their insurance cover for their equipment,” he noted.
Concerns About Additional Shutdowns
Meanwhile, three other power producers—Karpowership Energy, AKSA Energy, and Cenit Energy Limited—have reduced their power supply, sparking fears of potential shutdowns, which could worsen the ongoing power crisis. However, Ing. Asamoah downplayed these concerns, stating that the reported reductions in power supply were not as significant as perceived.
In Karpowership’s case, a technical issue with a pressure control valve led to a temporary decrease in power generation. While the company’s contract with ECG mandates the supply of 450 megawatts, it is currently delivering only 54 megawatts.
“The issue is due to a faulty valve, not unpaid debts,” Asamoah emphasized, adding that an expert had been flown in to fix the problem. “We expect Karpowership to return to full capacity by the weekend.”
Asamoah assured the public that Karpowership, AKSA Energy, and Cenit Energy Limited would not shut down, mitigating fears of a worsening dumsor situation.