The Government of Ghana project which started in July, 2011 together with the National Gas Exploration station in Damuli in the Jomoro District in Western Region collectively referred as the Western Corridor Gas Project which is the first of the Nation’s effort at monetizing the country’s domestic associated Natural gas from the Jubilee Field.
Addressing the chiefs and people at the commissioning ceremony, President Mahama said the Gas Project was going to push the country’s development into greater heights. He intimated that the project will stabilize the micro economy and save the country the treachery of using hard currency to import Light Crude Oil (LCO) to power the thermal plant.
He took a swipe at the opposition in their quest to thwarting the effort of Government at making Takoradi a free port and assured the chiefs and people that government was determined to make Takoradi port a free port including the provision of other allied services.
The Chief Executive of Ghana gas, Dr Goerge Adja Sipa Yankey said Ghana has made a significant contribution to the development of the country’s economy in easing the pressure on the cedi. He said the country was already in the quest of leading the industrialization drive by the delivery of Lean gas, Condensate LPG among others for use.
The Board Chairman of Ghana gas, Dr Kwasi Botchway said the project and its allied facilities were very phenomenal as an investment in Ghana.
The Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Madam Sun Baohong said the project will further deepened the relationship between Ghana and China
The scope of work included the design and construction of a 45-kilometre shallow water extension of a pipeline from the production platform, the FPSO Kwame Nkrumah, to the onshore processing plant at Atuabo.
It also included the construction of 111-kilometre transmission pipeline from the Atuabo to the Aboadze Power Enclave in the Shama District, as well as the construction of metering station at Esiama and another line to the northern part of the region.
Fully aware of the importance of energy efficiency to the transformation of the national economy, the business module of the Ghana gas is to mitigate or eliminate the current energy deficit by contributing 500megawatts (MW) to the energy mix.
Additionally, the Ataubo plants is positioned to process more that 180,000 tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for domestic use representing about 70 per cent of the national requirement of 240,000 tonnes; the delivery of 46, 000 tonnes of condensate in about 15,000 tonnes of isopethain which will help reduce pressure on the national currency by reducing the import of these products now available through Ghana gas.
Ten companies, led by the Sinopec Inc of China, took part in the project, which spans eight major districts in the region – Ellembelle, Jomoro, Nzema East, Ahanta West, Mpohor, Tarkwa Nsuaem, Prestea Huni Valley and Sekondi-Takoradi.
The project will not only benefit Ghana but also position Ghana as the majority shareholder of 45 per cent and the rest shared among other investors. Certainly, the gas plant has the capacity to generate about 140MM acf of Natural gas a day and will save the country 500 Million dollars annually when crude oil is substituted with gas in the generation of power
