Legislation to regulate EV charging in the offing – Energy Minister
Government is preparing legislation to regulate electric vehicle charging stations as rising EV adoption creates new demands on Ghana’s electricity infrastructure.
Ghana’s Energy Minister Dr Abdulai Jinapor has announced plans for new legislation to regulate electric vehicle charging stations as the country’s EV adoption rapidly increases. The proposed regulation aims to ensure local electricity networks have sufficient capacity to support the growing number of charging stations, which can consume significant electricity.
Dr Jinapor made the announcement at the Future of Energy Conference (FEC) 2026 in Accra, emphasizing that the legislation would require operators to obtain approval from the Energy Commission before establishing charging stations. This move is intended to prevent additional pressure on existing electricity infrastructure, particularly transformers, which could be affected by the unregulated establishment of charging stations.
The Minister highlighted the rapid emergence of EV charging stations and the high electricity demand associated with fast-charging technology, noting that charging an EV vehicle can take just five to 10 minutes, consuming a considerable amount of electricity. He emphasized that while the regulation is not meant to restrict investment in the emerging electric mobility sector, it is crucial to protect the reliability of electricity supply for all consumers, including industrial users.
Ghana has seen strong uptake of electric vehicles, with research indicating that EV users can save about 40% on fuel and related road-use costs. However, the increasing adoption of EVs presents an additional demand on the electricity system that must be carefully planned alongside the requirements of industries, mines, data centres, and other productive activities.
Dr Jinapor stressed the need to expand and strengthen the electricity system to accommodate the changing patterns of energy consumption, ensuring reliable and predictable power supply for industrialization. He emphasized that energy policy must ultimately support industrial competitiveness, integrating emerging technologies like electric mobility without compromising power supply to existing consumers.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
