The Chief Executive Officer of the Independent Power Producers (IPP), Dr. Elikplim Kwabla Apetorgbor, has hinted that three critical power plants face an imminent shutdown. He said this is due to the accumulated unpaid debts owed to the IPP.
Dr. Elikplim Apetorgbor said the government defaulted on a $259 million payment owed by the Electricity Company of Ghana. According to him, the government has failed to honor its promises to pay the $259 million debt. This debt, he says, is owed by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
Speaking on JoyFM on Tuesday, Dr. Apetorgbor warned that if the issue remains unresolved, the three key power plants will cease operations by next week.
“If nothing is done by the end of this week, next week, three key power plants will shut down,” he warned.
While he declined to name the affected plants, he stressed. “For now, it’s confidential, but I can tell you if nothing is done, three key IPPs will be shutting down as well.”
Responding to inquiries on reconciliation efforts, Dr. Apetorgbor dismissed their significance. He emphasized that such efforts would not alter the current situation.
“For us, we are up to date with our numbers, so we know what we are talking about. The government does not even know how to account for the power sector figures. You don’t even have to trust figures coming from them,” he stated.
Ghana’s Power Supply: Background
The Finance Minister, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, had announced that Ghana’s power supply would stabilize due to a renegotiated agreement between the government and Sunon Asogli.
This new deal aims to resolve power interruptions stemming from financial disagreements between Sunon Asogli and the ECG. These disagreements saw the former shut operations temporarily.
Dr. Adam confirmed that an agreement had been reached, assuring the public of improved power stability. He added that this renegotiated deal with Sunon Asogli forms part of a broader restructuring initiative involving other IPPs.
However, Dr. Apetorgbor cast doubt on the minister’s assertions, questioning their credibility. “I have made it clear that those statements he made were actually political. He cannot produce any agreement that he has signed with any IPP. If he has, let him share it with the public.”
He argued that if the Minister’s claims were valid, the public would witness results in the coming week as three more IPPs prepare to cease operations.
