Nationwide power disruption expected on July 13 as plants shut down for maintenance

 The Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdullai Jinapor has announced temporary disruption of power supply across the country on Sunday, July 13, as gas suppliers, ENI, turn off their valves for rehabilitation.

It is part of the company’s measures to increase gas production to 270 mm scarf.

According to the Minister, the increase in gas production is of gain to the energy sector despite the temporary inconvenience.

“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,” he said.

He added that “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.”

Mr. Jinapor was speaking at a ground breaking ceremony for the reconstruction of the 161kV Anwomaso to Kumasi Transmission line.

The project which is co-founded by the European Union and Government of France will deal with low voltage in Kumasi and Dukwaw mining areas, as well as deal with inefficiencies in the system.

According to the Minister, based on advice from technical persons, the government has resolved to restrain from running the plant on liquid fuels.

“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 stated.

Mr. Jinapor added, “It involves changing nozzles, it involves a lot of work and so if we are going off for about for to six hours you don’t risk it transitioning to liquid fuel only to come back to gas.”

The Minister further assured of efforts to minimize the adverse impact of the shutdown.

Meanwhile, the Minister has announced the additional discovery of commercial oil by the ENI as Tullow Oil intends to spend more resources in the upstream sector.

Source: Nana Yaw Gyimah