Ghana Making Sure Electricity Stays On During World Cup Matches

Ghana has been rationing electricity of late because of natural-gas shortages and below-average levels of water at hydroelectric plants. But the country will make sure the power stays on for Monday night’s World Cup opener against the United States, and for the team’s other games.



The country plans to boost power production during its World Cup matches and asked the nation’s largest aluminium smelter to reduce consumption to make sure that scheduled blackouts don’t interfere with the Black Stars’ games.

Neighbour Ivory Coast has agreed to supply 50 megawatts to Ghana during its games, the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission said in an e-mailed statement. The Volta Aluminium Co. has been asked to reduce power use during Black Stars matches, the agency said. Ghana plays its first game on June 16 in Natal, Brazil, against the U.S. The tournament starts tomorrow, with the host nation’s team facing Croatia.

“These plans are put in place for consumers to watch uninterruptible football matches during the World Cup,” the agency said in the statement. “Within these arrangements the load-shedding schedule, though varied, still exists.”

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