The Centre for Environmental Management and Sustainable Energy (CEMSE) has urged the government to secure additional natural gas supplies ahead of the scheduled shutdown of the Atuabo Gas Processing Plant, warning that failure to do so could increase costs and deepen reliance on expensive alternative fuels.
The Ministry of Energy and Green Transition has announced that the Western Region facility will undergo a two-week maintenance exercise from August 16 to 30, 2025. The works will involve full suspension of gas supply for inspections, repairs, and upgrades to critical systems.
CEMSE Executive Director and energy analyst, Benjamin Nsiah, stressed the need for early planning to mitigate the shutdown’s impact.
“We need to plan these maintenance schedules in advance and ensure that, before the year starts, we’ve identified them and secured additional natural gas supplies,” Nsiah said. “We must also begin to utilise the Tema LNG plant, which is designed to import large volumes of natural gas into the country. Using such facilities could help limit environmental impacts.”
The Ministry says the maintenance is part of its commitment to ensuring the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of the plant, which plays a vital role in the national energy supply chain.
To avoid disruptions, it has partnered with key power sector stakeholders to implement contingency measures, including the use of alternative fuel sources to maintain stable electricity generation.
“The Ministry reaffirms its unwavering commitment to maintaining a reliable power supply at all times,” it said in a statement, pledging to provide regular updates on the progress of the works.
