- No load-shedding by ECG, says Energy Minister.
- Overload on lines and transformers causes outages.
- Emergency shutdowns and maintenance contribute to outages.
- Government working to improve power supply.
The Minister of Energy, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempreh, has clarified that the recent power outages experienced in various parts of the country were not a result of load-shedding by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
For several months, many areas of the country have been plagued by intermittent power outages, causing difficulties for businesses and households alike.
Answering questions on the floor of Parliament, Dr. Prempeh explained that the erratic power supply was due to a combination of factors. He stated that localized outages occurred due to overload on lines and transformers, particularly in areas with sudden increases in residents and businesses.
The Minister cited East Legon as an example, where a once-residential area has become a business district, straining the existing power infrastructure. He added that the outages were also caused by the average capacity of overloaded lines and transformers, as well as emergency shutdowns and plant maintenance.
At the time of the question, CenPower had experienced an emergency shutdown, resulting in an immediate loss of 40 megawatts. Additionally, maintenance work on the Amandi power plant was ongoing, contributing to the power outages.
Dr. Prempeh emphasized that these factors were not planned, and therefore, ECG could not have announced a load-shedding schedule. The Minister’s explanation aimed to clarify the reasons behind the power outages, reassuring the public that the government is working to address the issues and improve the country’s power supply.
