The Centre for Environmental Management and Sustainable Energy (CEMSE) has strongly advised the government to proactively secure additional natural gas supplies ahead of the upcoming scheduled maintenance at key gas processing plants.
According to CEMSE, this strategic move is essential to reduce operational costs and minimize the country’s dependency on more expensive alternative fuels during such downtime periods.
The advisory comes in response to the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition’s announcement of a planned two-week shutdown of the Atuabo Gas Processing Plant in the Western Region, slated for August 16 to August 30, 2025.
The shutdown is necessary to conduct comprehensive inspections, repairs, and upgrades to the plant’s critical infrastructure, aiming to enhance safety, reliability, and operational efficiency.
Benjamin Nsiah, the Executive Director of CEMSE and a recognized energy analyst, emphasized the risks posed by inadequate preparation ahead of this maintenance period.
Nsiah highlighted that failure to secure supplementary gas supplies could lead to significant strain on the national energy supply as well as increased financial burdens on public resources. He stressed, “We need to plan these maintenance schedules well in advance and ensure that before the year ends, all such periods are identified and necessary natural gas supplies are secured. It is also critical that we begin fully utilising facilities like the Tema LNG plant—engineered to import substantial volumes of natural gas into the country—which can play a vital role in mitigating environmental impact and sustaining supply.”
During the maintenance shutdown, gas supply from the Atuabo facility will be temporarily halted to allow for the essential engineering and technical interventions. The Ministry of Energy and Green Transition described these efforts as part of the government’s broader commitment to ensuring the plant operates safely and efficiently.
Given the plant’s central role in Ghana’s energy infrastructure, the government has partnered closely with major stakeholders in the power sector to establish contingency plans, including deploying alternative fuel sources to maintain stable electricity generation and avoid disruptions in power supply across the country.
In an official statement, the Ministry reaffirmed its dedication to maintaining consistent and reliable power supply throughout the maintenance period and assured that it would provide regular updates to the public regarding the progress of the works.
This proactive collaboration underscores the importance of strategic planning and resource management in Ghana’s ongoing energy transition and sustainability efforts. The combined actions aim to safeguard economic stability, energy security, and environmental sustainability during critical maintenance operations.
