Ghana is set to experience a temporary nationwide power disruption on Sunday, July 13, as ENI Ghana undertakes a critical valve shutdown to facilitate maintenance works aimed at boosting gas production.
The Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdullai Jinapor, disclosed that the planned shutdown will pave the way for ENI to increase gas production to 270 million standard cubic feet per day (MM Scarf), a move he described as beneficial despite the inconvenience it poses.
“This Sunday, ENI will turn off their valves temporarily to increase gas production to about 270 MM Scarf. It means that we are stabilizing the energy sector,” the Minister stated.
The maintenance exercise will result in intermittent power outages nationwide, as plants depending on ENI’s gas supply will go offline for the period.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the reconstruction of the 161kV Anwomaso to Kumasi Transmission Line, co-funded by the European Union and Government of France, Jinapor assured that the works are critical for long-term energy security.
“Because the plant will be turned off for a short period within the day for maintenance works, we are likely to experience some interruption of power. It is for a good purpose,” he explained.
Running on Liquid Fuels Ruled Out
He revealed that based on expert advice, government has resolved not to run the affected plants on liquid fuels during the shutdown, citing technical complications.
“Based on the advice from engineers, I have directed that we do not attempt to run those plants on liquid fuel for that short period,” he said.
“It involves changing nozzles, it involves a lot of work and so if we are going off for about four to six hours you don’t risk it transitioning to liquid fuel only to come back to gas.”
Additional Oil Discovery
In a related announcement, Minister Jinapor confirmed that ENI has made additional commercial oil discoveries, while Tullow Oil is preparing to invest further in Ghana’s upstream sector, signalling a robust outlook for energy sector growth.
“It means that we are stabilizing the energy sector,” he emphasised, adding that government is working to minimise the impact of Sunday’s shutdown.
