GOIL Commissions $15m Marine Gas Storage Facility in Takoradi

The Ghana Oil Company (GOIL) has commissioned a 15 million dollar Marine Gas Storage (MGS) facility, the largest in the country to improve the bunkering industry and the Ghanaian economy in general.

The 13.5 million litre capacity project consists of storage and dispatch of marine gas oil to upstream vessels, ships and FPSOs that would dock at the Takoradi Port and would no doubt contribute to the re-direction of ships and vessels to the Takoradi Harbour for fuelling and making Ghana the destination choice for vessels in the sub-region.

Mr. Patrick Akpe Kwame Akorli, Group Chief Executive Officer of GOIL said the construction of the facility began in 2015 and is said to revitalize the Takoradi Port, energize general economic activity in the country’s energy sector.

He said: “With the oil find, vessels and ship activity was expected to increase in the country…we are ready to meet the oil needs of these vessels”.

He said despite the numerous challenges and the skepticisms over the ability of GOIL to undertake such a huge project…“the company had proven that given the right environment and leadership Ghanaian businesses could do better.

“The initial challenges never discouraged and hindered GOIL’s Board of Directors and Management’s determination to forge ahead with the project, GOIL’s investment is therefore a testimony that Ghanaian companies can rise to the occasion.”

Mr. Akorli said GOIL marine gas tank farm had a motorized valves and automatic control systems for dispatching products to the vessels, three pumps to provide product at a flow rate of 250 cubic metres an hour, with additional extra lines to meet customer needs.

The project according to the GOIL Group CEO had a separator system to ensure any affluent from the tank farm was properly treated and fire-fighting system with foam and water.

The GOIL MGO facility, Mr. Akorli added was of the highest quality and met international standard in terms of storage, distribution and safety adding, “the foundations of the project have been designed taken into consideration seismic movement at the harbor.”

The GOIL Group CEO expressed gratitude to Murray and Roberts, a South African Company engineering and construction firm and Viking Offshore for their excellent performance in the execution and management of the project within a record 18 months.

The 15-million-dollar facility was solely financed by GOIL through its internally generated funds; Mr. Akorli therefore stressed the need for the patronage of the local goods; “When you patronize local goods and services and money generated stays in the country but if you buy foreign goods the money is repatriated back to their country of origin.

“We believe in the Ghanaian, we believe that some aspect, especially the retail aspect of the economy must be left in the hands of Ghanaians. That is the only way we can grow our economy and that is the only way to retain money in our economy.

“If everything is being done by outsiders, they make their money and take it away, how then do we retain our economy, circulate and generate the employment that our youth needs so much”.

The Deputy Minister of Energy, Dr. Mohammed Amin Anta remarked that the project signifies a great leap forward for additional storage capacity which will improve the bunkering industry in Ghana.

“This will no doubt, contribute to the redirection of ships and vessels to Takoradi Harbour for fuelling, and will make Ghana a destination of choice for vessels in the region” he said.

Dr. Amin Anta who commended GOIL for taking a lead in the Bunkering Sector assured that Government on its part would support initiatives which promote local content in the Oil and Gas sector.

“Government will soon formalize the local content policy on downstream industry activities and so companies such as GOIL must embrace the policy and work with it to the latter for the total growth of the economy and the industry at large,” he said.

Dr. Anta also congratulated the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GHPA) for their contribution and effectively collaborating with Murray and Roberts of South Africa to complete the project on schedule and on budget.

He urged management of GOIL to ensure the highest level of maintenance culture, in order to derive the maximum benefit from the facility.

Professor William Asomaning, Board Chairman of GOIL said the project would position it as an important player in bunkering business, redirect significant volume of business activity in the sector to the Takoradi Port and help the GOIL to recoup investment and increase revenue of the port as well.

He mentioned the completion of similar facility at the Sekondi naval base to provide 4000 litre to benefit from the huge trade in marine gas 60 per cent of which was done offshore presently.

Nana Kobina Nketsiah, V Omanhene of Essikado traditional Area said the feat chalked by GOIL demonstrated how determination and “can do spirit” propel an individual or country into development and urged them to fly the flag of Ghana even higher.

Story By: Michael Creg Afful

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