Ghana’s gas supply has been significantly reduced as the West African Gas Pipeline Company (WAPCo) cuts its flow to 60 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) due to an outstanding $20 million debt.
Energy Minister John Jinapor disclosed this at a media briefing on Wednesday, March 12, acknowledging the financial constraints affecting gas supply but assuring the public that power outages are not imminent.
“As we speak today, WAPCo has curtailed gas supply to 60mmscfd because of an outstanding liability,” he stated. However, he dismissed concerns about load shedding, insisting, “We are not shedding load, so there is no need for a load-shedding timetable.”
Jinapor attributed the country’s energy challenges to a fragile transmission network, which has made certain areas vulnerable to power cuts.
“We have inherited a very weak system. The transmission grid is fragile, and even the slightest issue can cause power outages in some areas. There is a need to strengthen the grid, improve primary substations, and add more substations, particularly around the Kumasi enclave,” he explained.
He urged Ghanaians to be patient as the government works to address the structural issues affecting the energy sector.
“It’s a difficult situation, but we are committed to resolving it,” Jinapor assured.
