Tema, Jan 20, GNA - President John Atta Mills, has expressed sadness over the fire outbreak that occurred on Tuesday at the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), but maintained that the disaster would not affect supplies. Deputy Minister of Energy, Mr Kofi Buah disclosed this at a media encounter at TOR in Tema on Wednesday, which was also attended by Dr. Kwabena Donkor, Chief Executive of TOR, Dr Kwame Ampofo and other Board members of the Refinery.
Nine tankers were destroyed, and two lives had so far been lost, in the aftermath of the fire, but the Deputy Minister said that the situation would not affect the production capacity of TOR. The TOR, according to the Ministry of Energy, had adequate reserves at storage depots through out the country. Mr. Buah said the Ministry would set up a committee to investigate the disaster and present its report to the Minister of Energy in three weeks time.
He on behalf of the management of TOR and government extended condolences to the bereaved families of those who lost their lives in the fire outbreak.
Dr. Donkor commended the media for reporting on the disaster and said contingency measures had been put in place to avert supply inadequacies. He said the fire was a "national calamity" considering the fact that the Refinery is a strategic national asset. 20 Jan. 10
