The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), of the Independent Power Generators, Ghana (IPGG), Dr. Elikplim Kwabla Apetorgbor, has urged the Volta River Authority (VRA) to stop exporting electricity and instead prioritise meeting domestic demand amid the ongoing power crisis.
IPGG has highlighted Ghana's current struggle with a power crisis, emphasising the need for VRA to reduce the export of hydro-generated electricity to neighbouring countries with lower tariffs.
In a press statement released on Monday, March 25th, Mr Apetorgbor emphasised the importance of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority avoiding the imposition of high electricity tariffs on Ghanaians, particularly during periods of unstable power supply.
Mr Apetorgbor also called on the Energy Commission to implement proactive measures to ensure fair distribution of tariffs between domestic supply and export, aiming to foster equity in electricity pricing.
“We are currently in crisis, Ghanaians are sleeping in darkness, companies cannot operate with a guaranteed power supply, there is a shortage in supply, etc. making the available cheap hydro generation to Ghanaians, the taxpayer is supreme and must be of prime consideration, irrespective of your survival concerns.
“Why should jurisdictions that contribute nothing to Ghana’s economy be prospering on a cheap resource? Ghanaians are paying very high tariffs, averaging 14 cents/kWh, particularly at peak time, while those neighbouring countries enjoy about half of the tariff. This is not fair to the Ghanaian."
“Energy Commission will be seen as biased to other participants in the sector, if this export is not stopped immediately for the benefit of the Ghanaian taxpayers.
"We are aware of situations in the recent past where load shedding is high and at the same time over 200MW of generation capacity is being exported.”
Credit: myjoyonline.com