General News of Thursday, 13 March 2008

Source: GNA

Ghana fashions out legislation on natural gas operation

Accra, March 13, GNA-Ghana has fashioned out comprehensive and adequate regulatory mechanisms for the transmission of natural gas. These mechanisms cover technical and operational, distribution and sale as well as transmission utility of natural gas.

Parliament therefore on Thursday adopted a motion on the Report of the Committee on Subsidiary Legislation on three Legislative Instruments -LI 1911, 1912 and 1913. The object of LI 1911 is to seek to provide rules specifying the technical and operational requirements for all persons licensed as public utility under the Energy Commission Act 1997, Act 541 for the distribution of natural gas in areas or zones designated by the Commission.

The rules on the supply of natural gas cover the scope and application for the service connection, connection of supply, financing of service line, precaution in execution of works, and illegal connections.

The Report of the Committee on Subsidiary Legislation noted that the LI 1912 seeks to provide rules specifying the standards of performance requirements for all persons licensed as public utility under the Energy Commission Act 1997, Act 541 for the distribution and sale of natural gas in areas designated by the Commission. Presenting the Report of the Committee, Mr Francis Aggrey Agbotse, Chairman of the Committee on Subsidiary Legislation said the Committee has recommended that the rules governing the Natural Gas Transmission Utility be allowed by Parliament to come into force with the passage of time.

Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh (NDC-Wa West) called for the enforcement of the rule and vigilance by the managers of the gas business since it was a new area. Mr Chireh also stressed better customer relations and care.