We are not in crisis – Jinapor fires back – Nsemkeka
The Minister of Energy and Green Transition, John Jinapor, has refuted suggestions of a power crisis amid intermittent blackouts and low currents experienced in some parts of the country.
His response follows criticism from a section of Ghanaians and some energy experts about continued lamentations since taking office.
Critics also faulted the minister for persistently presenting a gloomy outlook on the power sector.
The minister disclosed to Parliament’s Energy Committee about a week ago that the country had just 2.6 days’ worth of liquid fuel left to power thermal plants, with the ministry racing against time to raise funds for fuel procurement.
But this did not go down well with some individuals who asked the minister to focus on fixing the problems rather than dwelling on challenges.
Addressing the matter, Mr Jinapor stated, “I didn’t say we will have a challenge; I didn’t say we have a crisis. We are not in crisis; we are doing fairly well. Yes, we have challenges, but that is why we were voted into power to solve those challenges. If I am putting a solution across, that solution should be dealing with a challenge”.
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In an interview on Citi FM on Monday, May 19, he explained, “Parliament also wanted the statistics of all our fuel stocks, and I gave them to them. I also went further to say that we have ordered fuel, and we are getting that today, to replace what we have in stock.
“The facts are that Karpowership threatened to shut down, and we resolved the matter; that is not grumbling, that is solving the problem. It is sitting around the table to find the solution,” he replied.
According to him, the country’s “load shedding was around 70-80 megawatts, which was a shortfall, but the government has made arrangements for plants since taking over office to address the issue.
“Before the committee, I gave them all the statistics, then I moved on to tell them the challenges and also the moves to solve the challenges. For instance, I told them that we have inaugurated the gas processing committee to come up with how to build the gas processing plants so that we don’t depend on liquid fuel. That is not grumbling; we are solving the problem,” he added.
“I understand grumbling very well, and I don’t think that when you appear before a committee and you present facts, they term that as grumbling. Unless, as a minister, I needed to hide that fact,” he stated.
“ECG said they want private sector participation; we have inaugurated a committee, and they have done stakeholder consultation, and now we have to move on to implementation. That is not grumbling. It is dealing with the challenges,” he explained.