AfrElec: Ghana ready to phase out fossil fuels for renewable energy

Ghana is ready to phase out fossil fuels and make the transition to renewable energy, in line with worldwide efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, Deputy Energy Minister Andrew Agyapa Mercer has said, local media outlet Starr Fm reports.

He acknowledged, though, that the shift would not be easy nor cheap, meaning that a lack of funding could delay the move to cleaner energy sources.

Accordingly, Mercer said, Ghana’s government is determined to use revenues earned from the sale of domestic crude oil and natural gas production to develop its capacity with respect to cleaner energy.

The deputy minister also said that fossil fuels, especially natural gas, would continue to be part of Ghana’s energy mix, while Accra develops strategies to increase renewable energy production in the medium term.

“Currently, about 70% of Ghana’s [installed generating capacity] of 5,321 MW is from a thermal plant that uses natural gas as its primary fuel. This proportion is projected to increase to meet the [country's] growing energy demand, commensurate with energy demands and national economic growth,” he is quoted as saying by Starr Fm.

Mercer also noted that afforestation programmes and carbon credits would be introduced to offset the environmental impact of oil and gas development.