WAPCo Delays Pipeline Maintenance for Two Weeks
Accra, Ghana - 09 Jan, 2025 - In a move to prevent a looming power crisis, the West African Gas Pipeline Company (WAPCo) has agreed to a two-week postponement of its scheduled pipeline maintenance in Ghana by two weeks.
WAPCo's pipeline is a critical component of Ghana's energy infrastructure, transporting natural gas from Nigeria to power thermal plants. However, a combination of factors, including fuel shortages and the planned maintenance, threatened to cripple the country's power generation capacity.
A technical committee, established by Chief of Staff Julius Debrah, played a pivotal role in negotiating the postponement. The committee's efforts ensured that WAPCo delayed the maintenance by two weeks, affording authorities valuable time to secure alternative fuel supplies and stabilize electricity generation.
The maintenance, initially scheduled to commence this week, posed a significant threat to Ghana's electricity supply. According to the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo), the disruption in gas supply from the pipeline, combined with ongoing fuel shortages for thermal plants, would severely impact the country's power generation capacity.
Ghana's power sector has been plagued by challenges in recent months, including fuel supply deficits and disruptions to gas supplies. The government and relevant stakeholders are working to expedite fuel imports and finalize contingency plans to maintain power supply during the eventual maintenance period.
Key stakeholders, including WAPCo and GRIDCo officials, convened to assess the potential consequences of the pipeline maintenance on Ghana's power infrastructure. Discussions centered on mitigating the risk of widespread power outages, which could have far-reaching implications for businesses and households nationwide.
Ultimately, WAPCo agreed to postpone the maintenance by two weeks, providing authorities with a critical window to procure alternative fuel sources and fortify the national grid.
Source: Florence Kyei/ Lead News Online
