Ghana Gas to Halt Atuabo Plant for Maintenance, Ensuring Long-Term Reliability
Photo Credit: Ghana Gas
Accra, Ghana | August 12, 2025 - Ghana’s Ministry of Energy and Green Transition has approved Ghana National Gas Company’s (Ghana Gas) scheduled maintenance of the Atuabo Gas Processing Plant from August 16–30, 2025. The two-week operational pause will enable inspections, equipment repairs, and system upgrades critical to the facility’s long-term efficiency, safety, and reliability.
During the shutdown, gas supply from Atuabo to power plants and industrial users will be temporarily halted. To offset the shortfall, the Ministry, in collaboration with sector partners, has activated contingency fuel arrangements to ensure uninterrupted nationwide electricity supply. Measures include the strategic use of light crude oil for thermal plants, optimised dispatch planning, and increased gas supply from other sources.
Notably, Eni Ghana and its OCTP partners—Vitol and the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation—are boosting natural gas output by an additional 30 million standard cubic feet per day (MMscfd) to strengthen energy reliability during the maintenance period. This temporary ramp-up follows recent processing system upgrades aimed at enhancing operational efficiency and minimising flaring.
The maintenance schedule also comes in the context of broader regional infrastructure works. The West African Gas Pipeline Company (WAPCo) has announced offshore pipeline maintenance activities, highlighting the interconnected nature of West Africa’s gas supply network and the importance of coordinated operational planning to safeguard energy security.
The planned shutdown is part of Ghana Gas’s proactive asset management strategy, ensuring the Atuabo facility—commissioned in 2014—remains fit for purpose amid rising national energy demand. The government reiterated that preventive maintenance is vital to sustaining safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible operations, while contingency planning is central to maintaining public confidence in the country’s electricity supply.
The dual focus on infrastructure integrity and uninterrupted power underscores Ghana’s approach to balancing operational safety with economic stability. As the August shutdown approaches, the coordinated response between government, gas producers, and power generators is set to serve as a test case for the country’s resilience in energy planning and crisis prevention.
