Ghana secures 450,000 barrels of fuel to tackle power shortages

Ghana has taken delivery of 450,000 barrels of fuel to address the ongoing power generation challenges that have caused widespread electricity disruptions in recent weeks.

The consignment, confirmed by the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition on Thursday, is expected to provide immediate relief to thermal power plants facing fuel shortages, particularly those run by independent power producers (IPPs). The fuel, which arrived at the Tema Port, will be distributed to the affected facilities.

The intervention comes just days after Energy Minister John Jinapor warned that the country had less than three days’ worth of liquid fuel left to sustain electricity production.

Addressing Parliament’s Energy Committee on May 15, Mr Jinapor revealed the ministry was urgently sourcing billions of cedis to pay for new fuel shipments, some of which had already been secured on credit.

He noted that ongoing financial constraints within the Ministry of Finance had limited the ability to address the situation more swiftly.

However, the timely arrival of the fuel appears to have averted a major power crisis.

Richmond Rockson, Head of Communications at the Ministry of Energy, told JoyNews that the new supply would support stable electricity generation for “a long period.”

“It is currently at anchorage. Beyond LCOs, we have other liquefied fuels and gas available, so depending on demand, different fuel types will be deployed,” he said.

Mr Rockson added that this delivery is part of a series of fuel shipments to ensure a sustained power supply. “The only recurring challenge is financing, as fuel costs are not factored into the current tariff structure. That’s why we often rely on the Ministry of Finance for funding,” he explained.

He assured that the Ministry is working on a long-term restructuring plan to ensure a consistent fuel supply and reduce reliance on emergency financing.

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