|
WAGP to produce compressed gas by July
2008
Akosombo, Nov. 30, Ghanadot/GNA - Professor Leopold Messan
Gnininvi, Chairman of the Ministerial Steering Committee of
the West African Gas Pipeline Project (WAGP), on Friday said
the project would produce compressed gas by July 2008.
Compressed gas is used to fill cylinders for everyday use
such as cooking, air-conditions and refrigerators. This
means the cost of gas would be relatively cheaper.
Prof. Gnininvi said this at a Ministerial Committee Meeting
held in Akosombo to assess the progress of work so far,
re-asses the performance of the Committee and ensure that
the contractors were performing their duties well.
The Ministerial Committee charged with the overall
supervision of the execution of the project in its various
phases brought together ministers of energy and mines from
Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria.
The West African Gas Pipeline Project is a unique effort by
the four countries to tap gas resources from Nigeria for the
mutual benefit of the people of the participating countries.
Prof. Gnininvi, who is also Togo's Minister of Energy and
Mines, pointed out that the gas was expected to flow by 31st
December 2007 in Ghana, the first country to benefit from
the project.
He, however, said there was still a lot to be done to make
the project really complete and called for a firm commitment
by the four countries.
Mr. Kwame Ampofo-Twumasi, Deputy Minister of Energy, said
the project would provide a sustainable energy supply for
the economic development and integration of the countries in
the sub-region.
"This important new source of energy has the potential to
impact the West African business environment positively. It
offers opportunity for cost-effective, clean and reliable
energy supply for economic development."
The Deputy Minister pointed out that despite the problems,
concerns and delays, the project had stayed
on course and the actual construction of the pipeline was at
an advanced stage.
Mr. Ampofo-Twumasi said Ghana's share of the cost of the
project, which was about 16.3 per cent, amounted to about 19
million dollars but the benefits far outweighed the cost of
the project.
He expressed the hope that the
committee would come up with concrete measures and decisions
to see the free flow of gas within the scheduled time.
GNA
|
