The current power crisis in Ghana is likely to ease after the Ghana National Gas Company said it is ready to pump some gas to the Volta River Authority.

The Ghana Gas Company successfully tested its pipelines last month and is due to help the VRA produce 100 megawatts of power on trial basis.

A statement by Board Chairman, Dr. Kwesi Botchwey, said “the next objective of the commissioning process is to garner enough volumes of gas to be able to introduce gas from the Ghana Gas TRMS to the VRA’s tie-in valve.

“At this stage, following the receipt of the appropriate permits from the regulatory agencies, Ghana Gas is targeting a test ramp-up of up to 30 Million standard cubic feet per day (30MMSCF) of specification quality lean gas which should allow VRA to produce up to 100 MW of power on a trial basis”.

Dr. Botchwey added that Ghana Gas would continue to provide the public with regular updates on the commissioning phase until the gas can be regularly supplied to the VRA Aboadze Complex on a commercially sustainable basis.

Below is the full statement

STATEMENT BY GHANAGAS ON THE WESTERN CORRIDOR GAS INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT

Further to my statement issued on November 11, 2014, I am pleased to provide the following update on the progress of works on the gas infrastructure project.

The commissioning process has been continuing steadily and the team of engineers and the Contractors have been hard at work putting all the equipment through their paces to ensure that they are properly aligned, calibrated and properly functional on an integrated basis. Challenges encountered are being promptly handled to ensure that the commissioning programme is kept on track.

So far, some successes have been chalked and specification quality gas has been produced at the Gas Processing Plant at Atuabo and introduced into the offshore pipeline on a ramping basis.

Currently therefore, there is gas in the entire length of the offshore pipeline from Atuabo all the way to the Ghana Gas’ regulatory and metering station (TRMS) at Aboadze.

The next objective of the commissioning process is to garner enough volumes of gas to be able to introduce gas from the Ghana Gas TRMS to the VRA’s tie-in valve.

At this stage, following the receipt of the appropriate permits from the regulatory agencies, GhanaGas is targeting a test ramp-up of up to 30 Million standard cubic feet per day (30MMSCF) of specification quality lean gas which should allow VRA to produce up to 100 MW of power on a trial basis.

It is emphasised that our engineers are collaborating closely with VRA’s engineers during this test phase. It is therefore our expectation that the commissioning process will continue on a smooth and safe basis for us to achieve successful closure.

I wish to take this opportunity to request all persons and communities located along the pipeline route to ensure that they desist from any practices that could pose a danger to themselves and the pipeline.

We count on their cooperation and their community support.

We will continue to provide the Ghanaian public with regular updates on the integrated commissioning phase until we are finally ready to provide regular supplies of lean gas to the VRA Aboadze Complex on a commercially sustainable basis.

DR. KWESI BOTCHWEY BOARD CHAIRMAN

Accra: November 23, 2014