A major technical fault at the Ghana National Gas Company Processing Plant has led to a temporary disruption in electricity supply across parts of the country following an emergency shutdown of the facility.
According to a statement issued on Thursday, April 16, the incident was triggered by the complete failure of the Burner Management System (BMS) controller linked to the plant’s Heat Medium System (HMS)—a critical component in the processing of natural gas.
Preliminary assessments have revealed that the affected system has sustained significant damage and will require a full replacement.
The unexpected failure forced operators to shut down the plant immediately as a precautionary measure, resulting in a temporary curtailment of gas supply to thermal power plants.
The disruption in gas supply has had a direct knock-on effect on electricity generation, with several areas experiencing intermittent outages. Thermal plants, which depend heavily on gas from the facility, have been unable to operate at full capacity, thereby affecting overall power distribution.
Engineers have since been deployed and are working around the clock to rectify the fault. Efforts are currently focused on replacing the damaged system and restoring normal operations in the shortest possible time.
Meanwhile, a comprehensive technical and safety risk assessment is underway to determine the most secure and efficient pathway for resuming full plant operations.
Authorities have indicated that, depending on the outcome of these ongoing evaluations, steps to restore operations could commence within the course of the day.
Energy sector observers note that the incident highlights the vulnerability of interconnected infrastructure within Ghana’s power supply chain, where disruptions in gas processing can quickly translate into widespread electricity challenges.
Ghana Gas has assured the public that updates will be provided as the situation evolves. The company has also appealed for patience and understanding from affected customers, expressing regret over the inconvenience caused by the outages.
Source:
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