Ghana’s shift towards gas-driven power generation has helped reduce the country’s dependence on imported liquid fuels, generating annual savings of about $500 million, Energy and Green Transition Minister Dr John Abdulai Jinapor has said.
Speaking at the launch of the Petroleum Commission’s 15th anniversary celebrations on Tuesday, August 18, Dr Jinapor said increased gas availability had significantly reduced the country’s reliance on imported crude oil and other liquid fuels for power generation.
The increase in gas availability, he noted, “has led to a saving of about $500 million a year in terms of crude oil gas substitution.”
He said increased domestic gas production, supported by collaboration with industry partners, had significantly cut Ghana’s crude oil import requirements.
“When we assumed office, we were importing so much crude oil and other liquid fuels,” the Minister said.
Dr Jinapor explained that the government’s focus on expanding gas supply had strengthened the country’s energy security, adding that “working with ENI and these other partners and working with the Jubilee partners, we’ve significantly increased gas production.”
He said the development aligns with the government’s broader gas-to-power strategy, which seeks to maximise Ghana’s natural gas resources while supporting a transition towards cleaner energy sources.
“We will maximise our petroleum resources whilst promoting renewable energy to complement that,” he added.
Dr Jinapor also highlighted recent improvements in upstream oil production, noting that output had recovered from about 90,000 barrels per day to 126,000 barrels per day following interventions to address challenges affecting operators.
