The Ministry of Energy has strongly dismissed ongoing speculation about a potential nationwide power crisis, popularly referred to as dumsor, assuring Ghanaians that there is no cause for alarm.
According to Richmond Rockson, the Ministry’s spokesperson, despite the scheduled shutdown of the ENI gas plant for upgrades, the country has sufficient energy reserves and alternative fuel sources to maintain a stable power supply.
Speaking on behalf of Energy Minister John Jinapor, Rockson explained that while ENI’s temporary shutdown will affect gas supply, the Ministry has already activated contingency plans to bridge the gap.
Accordingly, he also dismissed recent media reports suggesting that Ghanaians should prepare for widespread blackouts.
“Let me take the opportunity to assure the people of Ghana that there’s absolutely nothing like nationwide blackouts or nationwide dumsor. The minister never said that. The ministry has not issued any statement to say that. I’ll take the opportunity to condemn some journalists and some political actors who have deliberately twisted what the minister said.”
Richmond Rockson
Rockson clarified that the Energy Minister’s recent remarks in Kumasi were taken out of context.
During the commissioning of the upgraded transmission line in Kumasi, the minister addressed the anticipated rise in gas supply from ENI and briefly highlighted possible short-term effects related to the ongoing upgrade.
Rockson reiterated that the comments focused solely on ENI’s expected contribution and not on any looming power crisis.
The Ministry acknowledged that while there may be brief disruptions in power distribution, these would be minimal and not indicative of a full-scale power crisis.
Rockson stated that the current measures will ensure that the ENI shutdown will not lead to a national energy shortfall.
He explained that disruptions—if any—would be a small trade-off for long-term energy improvements.
“Measures have been put in place to ensure that we do not have any impact. Even if we do that it’ll be minimal… It is possible that whilst these works are ongoing there’ll be a fluctuation.”
Richmond Rockson
Contingency Plans Rolled Out to Avert Dumsor
Richmond Rockson further explained that the Energy Ministry has initiated a comprehensive strategy to address any potential shortfall, which includes transitioning several power plants to operate on liquid fuels.
He indicated that while the specifics remain confidential for security reasons, thorough preparations have been made under the leadership of the minister and key stakeholders in the power sector to effectively bridge any supply gaps.
Despite the temporary absence of ENI gas, he expressed confidence that Ghana’s overall power generation would remain stable and even exceed the anticipated shortfall.
“In fact, from what we have put together we are going to have more megawatts than what the deficit will be. So we expect power to be stable. We expect the people of Ghana to continue enjoying the stable power that we’ve been enjoying over the last few months.”
Richmond Rockson
Rockson also highlighted the technical strength of Ghana’s energy infrastructure, stressing that the country’s diverse power generation sources provide strong protection against widespread outages.
He noted that the current energy mix—which includes hydroelectric, thermal, and renewable sources—significantly reduces the likelihood of a nationwide blackout.
He added that thermal power alone accounts for roughly 67 to 68 percent of the mix, with multiple fuel options such as “natural gas, you have LCO, you have HFO and then diesel sometimes,” ensuring stability even in the face of temporary supply challenges
He further explained that Ghana’s supply of natural gas is drawn from multiple sources, including N-Gas, Jubilee, and ENI.
This diversity, he noted, ensures that even if ENI undergoes a temporary shutdown or experiences an export shortfall due to the upgrade, it would not significantly impact the national grid or disrupt the country’s overall energy production. “So it’s not possible.”
Rockson highlighted the Ministry’s state of readiness and close collaboration with major energy stakeholders, including ECG, GRIDCo, and independent power producers (IPPs).
He noted that these coordinated efforts demonstrate a proactive stance by the government to avert even minor power supply interruptions.
According to him, engagements with key power sector entities have been ongoing throughout the week to ensure that power generation and distribution remain consistent, with only minimal disruptions anticipated, if any.
With these assurances from the Energy Ministry, Ghanaians can remain optimistic about uninterrupted power supply—even in the face of ongoing maintenance operations at critical infrastructure points.
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