Outgoing Mahama Gov't Ensured Ghana's 'Dumsor' Days Are Over - Terkper

Outgoing Finance Minister Seth Terkper says enough investments have been made to ensure that the country does not return to dumsor days in the next administration.

Speaking to the press Tuesday, he said the phenomenon is being brought under control to the point where the projection is that going forward supply would exceed demand. "This could be reversing the situation in some two to three years," adding the nation has had the occasion to stop the processing of independent power producer applications. 

The country was hit by a four-year power crisis which saw major parts of the country in darkness for 24 hours with only 12 hours of electricity supply. After series of broken promises by the Mahama-led government, the crisis abated late this year with the increase in generation capacity through the procurement of the KARPOWER, Ameri plants etc.

This comes as energy experts and industry watchers have projected a return to another power crisis in April next year due to instability over the source of fuel. The Africa Center for Energy Policy (ACEP) has warned of a return to a crippling power crisis in 2017 hinging its worrying projection on unsustainable fuel supply. In a report released by ACEP titled "Beyond 2016 Elections, Energy Sector Priorities" it warned that fuel supply, particularly gas, will be difficult to find from April 2017.

With water supply in the Akosombo Dam said to be at an eternally low levels hydropower will also not be an option. "Fuel supply has become more challenging as thermal generation will continue to dominate the sector," the ACEP report said. But Mr Terkper has assured that a comprehensive review of the issue is completed adding government is on course to have a third FPSO which will increase the supply of crude as well as gas. 

"Gas is expected to follow from the TEN fields from the beginning of next year and therefore and we are likely to see a more stable supply of gas," he said.