The Director of Public Relations at the Power Distribution Service (PDS) has denied claims the service owes Independent Power Producers huge sums for power supplied.
Speaking on Joy fm, William Boateng also denied claims that PDS has failed to honour its financial obligations to the IPP’s since it took over the distribution of power from the Electricity Company of Ghana in March 2019. Mr. Boateng was rebutting threats by the Chamber of Independent Power Producers and Bulk consumers, that they will plunge Ghana into darkness if some 700 million US Dollars debt owed its members is not paid in eight days.
Explaining the situation, Chief Executive of CIPDIB, Elikplim Kwabla said the decision to cut power supply to PDS has been necessitated by debts they have incurred, in running their operations.
These operations, he said include fueling and maintaining their plants, and paying workers. Elikplim said the six IPP’s had a wonderful relationship with the ECG, until PDS took over. He added that PDS has also failed to respond to their demand letters or invitations to a meeting to discuss outstanding payments.
Hinting on sctions to take in the future, Mr. Elikplim threatened that they would stop supplying their 1,500 megawatts of power to PDS, which constitutes more than 50 per cent of what is required to meet the demands of consumers. But in a quick rebuttal, PDS has denied these claims.
Director of Communications at PDS, William Boateng said PDS has no contract with the Independent Power Producers, and therefore owe the IPP’s no obligation to respond to their correspondents, or make payments to them.
Explaining this, Mr. Boateng said PDS only has a contract with ECG, and it has not reneged on it. He therefore directed the IPP’s to the ECG to settle their matters with them.
Source:myjoyonline.com
