Ghana Faces Power Cuts as Eni Suspends Operations for Gas Upgrade

Ghana is bracing for temporary power outages as Eni suspends operations at a gas plant to implement a supply boost. The upgrade will increase gas output by 30 million standard cubic feet per day, helping stabilize energy delivery once completed.

(Reuters) — Italian energy group Eni will temporarily suspend operations at a gas plant in Ghana on Sunday to implement a supply increase, likely resulting in power cuts, the West African country said on July 9.

Ghana, the world's second biggest cocoa producer, has been trying to ramp up oil and gas production to increase revenues and prevent fossil fuels from becoming stranded.

It has reached a deal with Eni to increase natural gas supply by 30 million standard cubic feet per day to 270 million, the energy ministry said in a statement on X on Wednesday.

To facilitate the upgrade, Eni will temporarily halt some operations, resulting in "an impact on the availability of gas for power generation," the statement said.

Speaking at an event on July 7 in the southern city of Kumasi, Energy Minister John Jinapor said Ghana was "likely to experience some interactions or interruption of power" while the plant was offline.

"Once the work is done, we shall stabilize supply of gas, increase gas production and that will improve the delivery of power," he said.

Eni's Offshore Cape Three Points project off Ghana's Atlantic Coast meets 65% of the country's energy demand, according to the Italian company's website.

Last week, Tullow Oil said in a statement it was planning to increase the supply of gas from its Jubilee and TEN projects to about 130 million standard cubic feet per day.