The current ongoing power crisis is expected to be mitigated in the coming weeks following confirmation from the Ghana National Gas Company (Ghana Gas) that the Atuabo Gas Plant has begun commercial production of gas.
According to Ghana Gas, commercial production of gas started yesterday.
The plant is currently supplying about 80 million standard cubic feet (mscf) of gas to the Volta River Authority’s (VRA) Aboadze Thermal Plant which is generating about 320 mega watts of power.
The supply will later be increased to about 120 million standard cubic feet (mscf).
The completion and full production of gas at the facility had been posponed several times.
Speaking to Citi Business News Corporate Communications Manager of Ghana Gas, Alfred Ogbamey said Ghana gas was waiting on downstream off takers including TICO to allow for full utilization of entire volumes produced.
[contextly_sidebar id=”cHqoxRQdxa8nvL3z7GFqOSAGzcSauLU6″]“It is important to note that commissioning completion does not imply that the Atuabo Gas processing plant will be operating at maximum capacity. We are prepared to supply the maximum that is downstream off takers would nominate. Unfortunately the downstream off takers have had some challenges and as of yesterday when I did check we were supplying 80 million cubic feet of gas to the off takers at Aboadze that in simply terms aid VRA at Aboadze to generate about 320 Mega Watts.”
Alfred Ogbamey intimated that the 320 Megawatts of power the Aboadze Thermal Plant was producing was power to cover some three regions; Ashanti, Eastern and Volta Regions referencing records from the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
The Atuabo Gas Plant has the capacity of producing some 120 million standard cubic feet (mscf) of gas.
However Ghana Gas is of the hope that completion of works by TICO will enable them produce full capacity of the 120 million cubic feet of gas which will help ease the power challenges the country is facing.
By: Norvan Acquah – Hayford/citifmonline.com/Ghana