The Ghana National Gas Company (Ghana Gas) is bleeding following its failed attempt to run away from the current ugly energy situation at Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, during a visit by the Minister of Energy, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh and various heads of agencies under the ministry, apart from Ghana Gas, made a strong case about how power outages were troubling Kumasi.
The Asantehene at a point, mentioned the fact that he was reliably informed that Ghana Gas was not playing its part effectively, in the supply value chain, to help power machines to stabilize supply to the Kumasi metropolis, although some fallen communication mast might have been resulted in poor power supply to Kumasi.
Nana went further to indicate that he was likely to drag the Ghana Gas boss to the President of the land, if things do not improve soon.
Events after the Manhyia Palace encounter became interesting, when revelations emerged that the Ghana Gas was, indeed, playing part in that ugly power situation in Kumasi.
However, there were several moves by the gas producers to sweep their own inactions under the carpet, to the extent that, the energy minister was publicly attacked by some staff of Ghana Gas for stating the honest truth.
Meanwhile; this writer has laid hands on a letter written by the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) to the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), that points to the fact that Ghana Gas was not supplying enough gas to fire thermal plants for electricity generation on the National Interconnected Transmission System (NITS) at the time Kumasi was experiencing the terrible power situation.
The letter dated November 17, 2021, stated that the shutdown of the gas processing plant at Atuabo since November 6, 2021, due to fault on the heat exchanger, has resulted in a reduction in domestic gas supply.
The letter further explained that units at Sunon Asogli (360 MW), Karpower (450 MW), one (1) TAPCO unit (150 MW) and the TT2PP plant (36 MW) are out of service due to inadequate gas.
“As a result of the reduced generation in Aboadze and the forced outage on our 330 kV Aboadze-Anwomaso transmission line, due to the damage of the three towers on Tuesday November 9, 2021, the recommended minimum generation in the Aboadze enclave to maintain the stability of the NITS, is not being met,’’ the letter stated.
The letter signed by Eng. Daniel Amartey for the Chief Executive Officer of GRIDCo was clear on the fact that the reduced generation in Aboadze results in voltage reduction around Kumasi. In order to prevent possible voltage collapse, it said, we occasionally request ECG to reduce load at peak, in Kumasi.
The GRIDCo was clear that inadequate gas supply was what was creating problems in Kumasi and other areas.
Another letter from the Ashanti Regional Strategic Business Unit of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to its Acting Managing Director, dated November 23, 2021, stated that the problem at Atuabo gas plant was creating challenges for Kumasi.
Engineer David B. Asamoah, in system update to the ECG Managing Director, said: “They have another problem at Atuabo gas plant, which has resulted in short supply of gas [and] hence generation reduction of 100MW to only KIBSP (Ridge) in Kumasi only.”
It is instructive fact, therefore, that the spirited defence mounted by certain members of staff of Ghana Gas to the effect that the outfit has hand in what went on Kumasi, was nothing but a charade.
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