Ghana’s projected electricity consumption in 2025 is set to rise to 25,836 GWh, marking a 4.7% increase from the anticipated 2024 consumption.
To meet this growing demand, the country relies on three main sources of power generation: hydro, thermal, and renewable energy. However, a looming challenge threatens to disrupt the stability of Ghana’s energy supply in the coming year.
Hydro power generation is estimated to reach 8,561 GWh in 2025, a significant 13.9% decrease compared to 2024.
This reduction is attributed to the reversal of high water inflows into the Akosombo Dam in 2023, which required water spillage to preserve the dam’s structural integrity. As a result, Ghana will increasingly rely on thermal energy to meet electricity demands.
In 2025, a total of 16,997 GWh of thermal power is needed, an increase of 2,473 GWh from the previous year.
These thermal plants, which are heavily dependent on gas and fuel, will face pressure to meet the demand. Ghana imports gas through the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP), which will undergo maintenance in 2025.
The pipeline, running through Togo, Benin, and Tema, will be cleaned, inspected, and have subsea valves replaced. During this period, gas from the pipeline will only be received in Takoradi, as there will be no reverse flow from Takoradi to Tema.
This operational shift is expected to affect plants relying on gas from Tema, such as Sunon Asogli, Cenpower, KTTP, and AKSA, potentially leading to shutdowns unless they can operate on liquid fuel.
The disruption in gas supply will result in around 90 MMscfd of excess gas from Nigeria being delivered to Takoradi, causing a reduction in local gas production by the same amount. This will lead to a significant power shortfall of 1,100 MW, enough to power Greater Accra for two days.
To mitigate the shortfall, Ghana will need to rely on hydro plants like Akosombo, Bui, and Kpong, though they may not fully compensate for the deficit. Thermal plants that can run on liquid fuel, such as AKSA, Sunon Asogli, and KTTP, may also help fill the gap, but the cost of liquid fuel is estimated at 105.49 million USD, significantly raising operational costs.
Despite the challenges, government is working to ensure a stable power supply, but the country’s reliance on imported gas and the seasonal variability of hydro generation highlight the need for long-term solutions to ensure sustainable and reliable energy production.
The ability of the energy sector to navigate these challenges will be crucial to maintaining Ghana’s economic growth and development in the years to come.
