Ghana: Gas, Oil Industry Hails Atuabo Project

THE Ghana Oil and Gas Service Providers Association (GOGSPA) commended the government for giving cabinet  approval for the development of Atuabo Free Port project.

The project for the oil and gas sector has generated controversy among Trades Union Congress (TUC), Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), and the government.

Nonetheless, members of GOGSPA are hoping that the free port project, which is currently before Parliament, would go through the necessary processes with the urgency it deserved and approval given to the operator, Lonrho, to commence work.

The Executive Director of GOGSPA, Nuertey Adzeman, explained that as Ghana developed and joined the community of oil producing nations, it would be vital to have facilities such as a dedicated port for oil and gas operations from storage, fabrications and maintenance work all at one location.

“The project when completed will create wealth for Ghana; generate employment and thereby transforming the local economy of Atuabo, the Ellembelle and Jomoro districts as well as the entire Nzema Land,” Adzeman said.

Although the country has two ports at Takoradi and Tema, these facilities were not built with the oil in mind; therefore, those supporting offshore operations currently have to struggle for space within the port.

The yet to be built Atuabo Free Port with all the services incorporated in the design will turn Ghana into an oil and gas hub within the West African sub-region, he stressed.

Currently, as a result of the oil discoveries, there has been an increase in the movement of heavy duty vehicular trucks competing with other road users within the Sekondi/Takoradi metropolis of the Western Region as the trucks carry equipment needed for offshore activities.

With a dedicated shore base facility, the movement of trucks in the metropolis would reduce and the current congestion in the twin-city of Sekondi/Takoradi will ease significantly, Adzeman added.

The members of GOGSPA are very happy with the move for a Free Port at Atuabo, which is long overdue, he said.

It would not only complement the Takoradi Port and ease the congestion in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA), but also as a way of decentralizing development across the country.

“It is important that we spread development across the country where the indigenes would see the need to stay at home and not migrate to urban centers.

“Atuabo Port infrastructure will allow indigenous Oil and Gas companies to increase their operations which have been hampered to date as a result of lack of suitable infrastructure,” Adzeman said.

THE Ghana Oil and Gas Service Providers Association (GOGSPA) commended the government for giving cabinet approval for the development of Atuabo Free Port project.

The project for the oil and gas sector has generated controversy among Trades Union Congress (TUC), Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), and the government.

Nonetheless, members of GOGSPA are hoping that the free port project, which is currently before Parliament, would go through the necessary processes with the urgency it deserved and approval given to the operator, Lonrho, to commence work.

The Executive Director of GOGSPA, Nuertey Adzeman, explained that as Ghana developed and joined the community of oil producing nations, it would be vital to have facilities such as a dedicated port for oil and gas operations from storage, fabrications and maintenance work all at one location.

“The project when completed will create wealth for Ghana; generate employment and thereby transforming the local economy of Atuabo, the Ellembelle and Jomoro districts as well as the entire Nzema Land,” Adzeman said.

Although the country has two ports at Takoradi and Tema, these facilities were not built with the oil in mind; therefore, those supporting offshore operations currently have to struggle for space within the port.

The yet to be built Atuabo Free Port with all the services incorporated in the design will turn Ghana into an oil and gas hub within the West African sub-region, he stressed.

Currently, as a result of the oil discoveries, there has been an increase in the movement of heavy duty vehicular trucks competing with other road users within the Sekondi/Takoradi metropolis of the Western Region as the trucks carry equipment needed for offshore activities.

With a dedicated shore base facility, the movement of trucks in the metropolis would reduce and the current congestion in the twin-city of Sekondi/Takoradi will ease significantly, Adzeman added.

The members of GOGSPA are very happy with the move for a Free Port at Atuabo, which is long overdue, he said.

It would not only complement the Takoradi Port and ease the congestion in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA), but also as a way of decentralizing development across the country.

“It is important that we spread development across the country where the indigenes would see the need to stay at home and not migrate to urban centers.

“Atuabo Port infrastructure will allow indigenous Oil and Gas companies to increase their operations which have been hampered to date as a result of lack of suitable infrastructure,” Adzeman said.

Ghanian Chronicle