The Minister of Energy, John Jinapor, has issued a stark warning about an impending nationwide electricity crisis, disclosing that the country has less than three days’ supply of liquid fuel available to run its thermal power plants.
- The Energy Minister, John Jinapor, has warned of a potential nationwide electricity crisis due to critically low fuel supplies.
- He disclosed in Parliament that the country currently has less than three days’ worth of liquid fuel reserves for thermal power plants.
- Efforts are being made to secure funding for ordered fuel shipments, but financial constraints within the Ministry pose challenges.
Speaking before the Parliamentary Committee on Energy on Thursday, 15 May, Mr Jinapor revealed that the Ministry is urgently seeking billions of cedis to pay for fuel already ordered, as current reserves are dangerously low.
“My greatest concern is securing the next shipment of liquid fuel. Our existing stock can only last for 2.6 days,” he told Members of Parliament.
Funding shortfalls threaten power generation
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The Minister noted that although some fuel supplies had been obtained on credit, the absence of immediate funds poses a serious threat to uninterrupted power generation nationwide.
“We’ve placed an order for fuel, but it must be paid for. We’re working closely with the Ministry of Finance to facilitate payment. However, the reality is that the Ministry is also financially constrained. We plan to take the matter to Cabinet to explore how we can strengthen the sector,” Mr Jinapor explained.
Private sector partnership and structural solutions
In the face of the crisis, the Minister suggested that government may renew efforts to engage the private sector in the management of some aspects of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to help improve efficiency and sustainability.
“This approach may not entirely solve the problem, but it would take us a step forward. For instance, if revenue collection inefficiencies drop from 40% to 5%, it means we can recover more of what is owed,” he stated.
Mr Jinapor also emphasised the need for Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to fully meet their electricity obligations and reflect them accurately in their budgets. He pointed out that even key national institutions in sectors such as health, education, security, and the presidency must be adequately funded for their energy consumption.
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“It’s imperative that all public entities, especially essential services, allocate sufficient resources for electricity in their budgets,” the Minister stressed.
As the nation teeters on the brink of power shortages, the Energy Ministry’s plea highlights a broader call for systemic reforms, fiscal discipline, and collaborative solutions to secure Ghana’s energy future.
