- Ghana has announced a 21-day power outage due to gas supply shortages in Nigeria
- This is due to the Nigerian facility's maintenance stoppage, according to WAPCo
- Also, the huge debt owed Nigeria resulted in the country cutting off supply to neighbouring countries
Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCO) and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) announced a 21-day power outage due to gas supply shortages in Nigeria. The West African Gas Pipeline Company (WAPCo), which runs the 678-kilometre gas pipeline from Nigeria, said it would start maintenance.
The West African Gas Pipeline Company Limited (WAPCo) reportedly stated a decrease in the amount of gas available for transportation as a result of a Nigerian facility's maintenance stoppage, which had an impact on the gas supply to Togo, Benin, and Ghana. The business said that one of the Nigerian manufacturers of the natural gas it ships is closed for three weeks for maintenance, which will limit the amount of gas available to consumers.
WAPCo runs the 678-kilometre gas pipeline that transports natural gas from Nigeria to Benin, Togo, and Ghana. The pipeline is reported to start in Nigeria at the Itoki terminal, pass via several locations, including Lagos, and then submerge to reach Ghana, Benin, and Togo.
Debt the cause of power cut off to neighbouring countries
Togo, Benin, and Niger are among the countries affected. The development comes as a result of a high degree of debt and non-payment of electricity bills supplied to the countries over the years.
The Nigerian government recently restored electricity service to Niger, which had been cut off owing to a military takeover. The country also reportedly owes Nigeria almost N4 billion in electrical charges.
Nigeria intends to improve power supply to domestic users
Also, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) intends to improve power availability to domestic users following directives directing the System Operator (SO) to limit supplies to international customers to 6% of domestic supplies.
According to reports, Ghana has attained 80% electricity availability, making it the only West African country with the most improved energy supply.
New York Times' report on Nigeria's economy gets government and citizens talking
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the report done by the New York Times publication, which analysed Nigeria's dire socio-economic conditions, provoked the Nigerian government but impressed the citizens.
According to the report, Nigerians were experiencing the worst economic crisis in decades, with prices of food, medicine, and petrol too high for many to afford, and the government making it difficult for businesses operate.