Petroleum Corporation barge due in two months

The barge ordered by the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) from Italy to augment power generation, will arrive in the country in the next two months. Mr. A.B. Boadi-Mensah, Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Mines and Energy, announced this on Thursday when he led the committee on a tour of the Tano Basin Project at Efasu, near half Assini in the Jomoro District of the Western Region.

He said that the arrival of the barge would ensure the recommencement of the project. Mr Boadi-Mensah, who is also the MP for Obuasi, earlier at the meeting with the chiefs and people of Efasu and Manhyia, called for their cooperation.

He announced that all was set for the re-commencement of the project and the final agreement would be signed later. The people had earlier made several demands on GNPC. These include a school block, provision of portable water and a clinic, rehabilitation of the road from Jewey Wharf junction to the project site, a cold store and a community center.

The MP for Amenfi Central, Dr Frank Abu, allayed the fears of the people with regards to the project saying that, the sector minister had assured that the project would come into reality. On the payment of compensation to them, Dr Abu appealed to them to exercise restraint and assured that the project was dear to the heart of the government.

The Minority Spokesman on Mines and Energy, Mr Kofi Asante, said since a lot of money has been sunk into the project and the fact that it would enhance the “Golden Age of Business” there was no way any government would abandon it. Mr Asante hinted that already the government had approved the agreement between it and the Tano Field Development Project, which he said, would be of benefit to them.

Speaking to newsmen later, Mr Asante said since gas deposits in the country were estimated at 820 billion barrels with a greater proportion in the Tano Basin area, which would last for 12 to 15 years, there was the need to look beyond the project for the sustenance of gas supply in the country.

He therefore stressed the need for revisiting the agreement with La Cote d’Ivoire for the extension of her gas pipeline to link Efasu and the West African Gas Pipeline.