IES demands stronger safeguards amid temporary Akosombo power arrangement

The Institute for Energy Security (IES) is advocating for enhanced protections surrounding the temporary power arrangement at the Akosombo Generating Station, aimed at averting potential widespread power blackouts. Derrick Xatse, a Senior Research and Policy Analyst at IES, emphasized that while a permanent resolution to the issues plaguing the Akosombo transmission infrastructure is essential, the interim solution must also be robust enough to endure disruptions and swiftly restore power.

This stance came in the wake of a nationwide power outage on Thursday morning, which the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) traced back to a fault on the Akosombo–Volta transmission line.

Energy and Green Transition Minister John Jinapor clarified that the recent blackout was linked to a temporary setup introduced following a previous incident that severely impacted the Akosombo transmission infrastructure. Jinapor stated that the government faced two choices: halt the Akosombo plant for approximately six months to rebuild the control center entirely, or employ a temporary system to maintain power supply while the permanent repairs were underway. The temporary measure was chosen to avert an extended shutdown of the plant.

However, Xatse cautioned that the temporary solution must be complemented by additional safeguards to shield the national power system from future disruptions. "We need a permanent solution, but we're also talking about resilience," he stated. "Every system has a solution, but what other measures can you put in place so that when faced with challenges, you can still restore power to Ghanaians in a timely manner?"

Xatse argued that merely having a permanent control center isn't sufficient if the overall system remains prone to faults without adequate mechanisms for rapid restoration.

Furthermore, the IES called for continuous investment in Ghana’s transmission infrastructure, asserting that such investments have not kept pace with the generation and consumption of electricity. Xatse stressed that stable electricity is vital for businesses and livelihoods, warning that prolonged outages could yield significant economic and social repercussions.

He urged the Energy Ministry and GRIDCo to implement supplementary short-term safeguards alongside the permanent solution to maintain the resilience of the national grid during technical disruptions.