Accra, May 2, GNA - Mrs Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan, Minister of Energy and Energy Affairs of Trinidad and Tobago, has ended a three-day visit to Ghana during which she discussed Ghana's Gas Infrastructure Development Project with Mr Joe Oteng-Adjei, Minister of Energy, and several senior other government officials. A release issued to the Ghana News Agency on Monday by the Consulate of Trinidad and Tobago, said the Minister, who led a high powered delegation from her country's energy sector, also discussed expanded areas of South-South cooperation and to establish the basis for further long term economic and cultural cooperation between the two countries.

The visit from April 25-27 was also a reciprocal one to one made by Mr Oteng-Adjei to Trinidad and Tobago. The release said the National Gas Company (NGC) of Trinidad and Tobago was invited to conclude joint venture negotiations with the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), which had been going on over the past seven weeks.

It said the National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago had a transmission capacity of 4.4 billion cubic feet of Gas per day and operated 800 kilometres of trunk line gas transmission system of which the 56-inch diameter gas transmission line was the largest in the western hemisphere.

Trinidad and Tobago was the largest exporter of ammonia and methanol in the world.

Among those Mrs Seepersad-Bachan met were the Minister of Finance, Dr Kwabena Duffour, Deputy Minister of Finance, Mr Fifi Kwetey, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Chris Kpodo and the Chairman of the GNPC Board, Mr Ato Ahoi.

Last March, the National Gas Development Task Force (NGDTF) asked the GNPC to conduct discussions with the National Gas Company (NGC) of Trinidad and Tobago to clarify the NGC's possible role in the structure of the gas commercialisation project.

Dr Kwesi Botchwey, Chairman of the Task Force told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Accra that the gas commercialisation project was currently in the final stages of review by the Task Force. Dr Botchwey said the ongoing discussions with the NGC of Trinidad and Tobago were not a culmination of a competitive bidding process. President John Evans Atta Mills in October last year named the National Gas Development Task Force to manage and help expedite the on-going gas commercialization project.

The Task Force was to review all aspects of the project, including its technical, commercial, economic and financing options, and make recommendations on the most efficient and viable ways of bringing the project to fruition.

The Task Force presented its report to President Mills last month. 2 May 11