Ghana faces a three-week power outage due to a reduced gas supply from Nigeria. Maintenance work on Nigerian gas facilities leads to decreased generation capacity.
Ghana's state-owned electricity company, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), has announced a three-week power interruption due to reduced gas supply from Nigeria. This is a result of maintenance work being carried out by a gas supplier in Nigeria, leading to a decrease in power generation capacity across Ghana.
To manage electricity distribution efficiently during this period, ECG stated that load shedding would be necessary to "maintain system stability and reliability." The company assured the public that it is collaborating closely with stakeholders to optimize available resources and minimize the impact on consumers.
The root cause of the gas supply reduction lies with the West African Gas Pipeline Company Limited (WAPCo), which announced that one of the gas producers in Nigeria had shut down its facility for three weeks of maintenance. This has resulted in decreased gas volumes available for transportation to customers in Togo, Benin, and Ghana.
WAPCo operates a 678-kilometer pipeline that transports natural gas from Nigerian fields to markets in these West African countries. The company stated that "the current situation is entirely out of WAPCo's control" and expects normalcy to return after the maintenance activities.
Nigerians have reacted to the news with a mix of pride and amusement, highlighting the country's importance as a regional energy supplier. One user tweeted, "So, they still rely on our gas supply for Power yet their mouths always run anyhow against us." Another quipped, "Won't change the fact that you are not qualifying for 2026 World Cup."
Some reactions poked fun at Ghana's reliance on Nigerian gas, with one user remarking, "They probably didn't cedis coming," playing on the Ghanaian currency.
Others expressed satisfaction, with a user stating, "Thanks To Jagaban, na everybody dey chop breakfast."
Despite the power interruption, the situation underscores Nigeria's role as a major energy provider in the region and has elicited a range of responses from Nigerians, reflecting a sense of national pride amidst the light-hearted banter.
