Dumsor: Gov’t needs $50m to buy fuel – Jinapor alleges

John Abdulai Jinapor, a ranking member of the Mines and Energy Committee of Parliament, has alleged that the government needs about US$50 million to purchase fuel for the thermal plants.

He said the amount included the payment of debts owed gas suppliers and the purchase of enough fuel to increase power generation.

He also maintained that the country has more than enough installed capacity, stressing that the current power outages (Dumsor) is “purely a financial problem.”

“It is a financial problem if they have the money today and they buy fuel it will be over, the thermal plants are available, Hydro is performing at full capacity, all they need is to get fuel for the thermal plants.

“They’ve asked for about 50 million dollars to buy fuel, [but] the Ministry of Finance hasn’t been able to get them the money,” he stated.

He further noted that it is the duty of the system operator, Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo), to update the distributor, ECG, about the amount of power it can generate. As a result, some Bult Supply Points (BSPs) of ECG are taken down, causing dumsor in the areas served by that BSP.

“Yes, that is true. GRIDCo has to inform ECG that we don’t have enough power, so this evening we can’t give you enough power, then GRIDCo will tell ECG that this evening we are taking the Mallam bulk supply point off so that ECG informs its customers,” said Jinapor, adding, “I was surprised the MD [of ECG] tried to take the fall by saying that some [630] transformers are overloaded.”

He added, “That is not the reason why we are facing power outages. The reason is that we don’t have enough generation. So, if there is no generation, GRIDCo cannot supply and if GRIDCo cannot supply, it has to take a bulk supply point off.”

“That is the truth, this narrative and the fabricated stories of a so-called transformer overload is a huge lie,” said the former deputy minister for energy.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, March 28, ECG announced a GRIDCo supply outage to its Pokuase bulk supply point. This resulted in power outages in areas such as Kwabenya, Agbogba, and Mayera.