Highly-placed source in the energy sector have revealed what they say us the true cause of intermittent power outages (dumsor) being recorded in Accra.

Many areas in the Greater Accra Region and some parts of the Ashanti Region have been experiencing intermittent power outages in the past weeks, and the situation is getting worse, with energy providers attributing the outages to repair works.

And earlier today, Wednesday April 8, 2024, the Ministry of Energy, through it spokesperson, Richmond Rockson, urged the public to exercise patience as the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) rolls out what he called a "major transformer upgrade programme" aimed at improving power supply and reliability across parts of Accra to address the ongoing erratic power supply.

However, sources close to the sector, who have expressed serious concern about the energy situation, have said the ongoing power fluctuation is not because of faulty transformers but rather, due to inadequate supply of gas.

The inadequate supply of gas for power plants, the sources reveal, is due to a lack of investment in the energy sector in recent times.

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Background and Challenge

The sources explained that under the previous administration, regular power cuts in the middle belt and parts of the north led to the acquisition of thermal generators: CENIT, AKSA and VRA thermal to stabilise the intermittent power cuts while easing pressure on the thermal generation plants in the Tema enclave, largely for Greater Accra.

The acquisition of the thermal generators, just before the former government left office, came with an accompanying demand for more gas to power these plants.

In spite of the new demand for gas, the sources have revealed that the gas supply has since remained the same, due to lack of sufficient investment in recent times, while power demand also continues to increase.

According to the close sources, Ghana's current demand for gas to power the thermal plants is about 230mmscf. However, Ghana is able to get only about 170mmscf - 100mmscf by Ghana gas and 70mmscf from Nigeria through WAPPCo.

It is this significant shortfall in gas supply, the sources maintain, that has reportedly led to load shedding, "because the generation demand is not being met."

According to the insider, about 200MW of power is currently being shed daily.

"This is alarming and a pointer to an imminent power crisis if nothing is done urgently," said the source.

The insider further revealed Accra and its environs will be the most affected as the Tema enclave is the biggest loser in the gas demand chart.

The sources dismissed claims by the Energy Ministry that it is undergoing maintenance hence the upcoming power cuts as "PR gimmick" intended to hide the real problem.

The Energy Minister announced that many parts of Accra, including Adenta, La, Teshie–Nungua, Nmai-Dzor, Baatsonaa and Lashibi.

The source, also an expert in the sector, said such planned maintenance works cannot result in widespread intermittent power cuts.

"Widespread intermittent power cuts can only be as a result of one of two things: low voltages as a result of deficient transmission infrastructure or low generation as a result of gas supply challenges," the source explained.

"In the current situation, it is a combination of both factors. The Ghanaian populace deserve to know what is happening," the source added.