President John Dramani Mahama has announced that Ghana plans to stop using crude oil to produce electricity in the next few years. This move aims to improve energy efficiency and protect the environment by utilizing cleaner fuel sources.
The change will be facilitated by the construction of a second gas processing plant, increasing the country’s natural gas supply.
Speaking at the 2025 Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan, President Mahama explained that the current gas plant at Atuabo is insufficient to process Ghana’s gas production.
“We are going to build a second gas train to handle more gas from our first field,” he stated.
The president highlighted the challenges of using crude oil, citing its expensiveness and price volatility, which affects the power sector’s manageability.
He believes switching to natural gas will reduce power plant operational costs and help settle debts owed to independent power producers.
President Mahama also revealed that Italian oil company ENI has resumed drilling in Ghana, with early results indicating potential large oil and gas reserves. If successful, Ghana could abandon crude oil for power generation within three to five years.
Inviting investors to support Ghana’s oil and gas industry, the president said, “I will lay a red carpet for anyone who wants to drill and pump in Ghana,” emphasizing the country’s favorable economic position for growth.