Pipelines for National Gas Project arrives

The Ghana Gas Company has taken delivery of about 3,271 pipelines from China for the National Gas Project at the Takoradi Port.

Dr Joe Oteng-Adjei, Minister of Energy, Dr Kwesi Botchwey, Chairman of the Board of the Ghana Gas Company, Dr George Adjah Spia-Yankey, Chief Executive Officer of the company and the Western Regional Minister, Mr. Paul Evans Aidoo, inspected the consignment on MV Amber Halo.

Another consignment of about 3,271 is due to arrive soon.

The team later inspected a camp for the storage of about 1,268 of the pipelines at Mampong near Takoradi and speaking to the media, Dr Obeng-Adjei said most of the equipment for the project have arrived and the laying of the pipes would soon begin.

He urged the contractors, Sinopec International Petroleum of China, to endeavour to execute quality work within the stipulated budget and on schedule adding that, work done must meet international standards and for that quality must not be overlooked in the quest to meet the deadline.

He appealed to communities in areas where the pipelines would be laid to be cooperative and not to create tensions and fan conflicts with people working on the project.

Dr Botchway said the local content of the project would be upheld whether or not there is a Local Content Law.

He said impression has been created that locals would be sidelined in the labour force for the project but this is not the case.

Dr Botchway said local people have been engaged for the project and experts would only be brought from outside when it is lacking in the country.

Dr Spia-Yankey said it was the wish of the President that the project became a reality and the Ghana Gas Company was doing everything to make it happen.

He said government would pay adequate compensation to those whose crops and properties would be destroyed by the project.**