Atuabo progressing smoothly; 120million standard cubic feet of gas soon to reach VRA - Kwesi Botchwey

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Created on Wednesday, 21 January 2015 16:18

Board Chairman of Ghana National Gas Company says commissioning activities at the gas infrastructure project at Atuabo has been progressing without glitches.

Dr Kwesi Botchwey said in a release Friday the gas processing facility is making headways to "supply the Volta River Authority (VRA) with lean gas for power production, and to produce Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) as well as other condensates for the downstream market."

The release said once the VRA completes expansion works at its Aboadze Thermal Plant Complex it will be possible to supply the power producer with the optimal 120 million standard cubic feet per day (120MMSCFD).


Read the full release signed by Dr Kwesi Botchwey below:


Statement by Ghana Gas on the Status of Commissioning activities at the Gas Infrastructure Project

We are pleased to confirm that commissioning activities have progressed satisfactorily at the Atuabo Gas Processing Plant (GPP). Since raw gas was introduced into the GPP, operational activities on the offshore pipeline component, the onshore pipeline component including the regulating and metering stations at Esiama and Aboadze have been smooth.

At the Atuabo Gas Processing Plant (GPP), a few challenges have been experienced with some minor pieces of equipment or components. These items, generally referred to as Punch.

List items, are the components that experience less than optimal performance and were specifically identified during the commissioning process. Progress is advanced to complete the remedial work and corrective fine-tuning of key punch list items prior to formal handover of the project by the Contractors, Messrs Sinopec, to Ghana Gas.

The GPP is operating satisfactorily to supply the Volta River Authority (VRA) with lean gas for power production, and to produce Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) as well as other condensates for the downstream market. Aboadze is still relying solely on gas from Atuabo to power the various plants in the enclave.

We are currently awaiting VRA to complete the requisite works at its Aboadze Thermal Plant Complex to enable it increase its available generating capacity. Once ready, it will be possible for us to increase our offtake of raw gas from the Jubilee Field’s FPSO Kwame Nkrumah to supply VRA lean gas at the optimal 120 million standard cubic feet per day (120MMSCFD).

We have also taken note of the recent commentary on challenges with Tullow’s FPSO gas export compressor. We are pleased to note that after a series of intermittent interruptions from the FPSO (spanning from a few minutes to as long as 15 hours) we have since Monday, January 5, 2015, not experienced any compressor trips from the FPSO. Our engineers have met with Tullow’s engineers to explore ways of averting unwarranted occurrences and we are pleased with the outcome of discussions and resultant actions.

All things being equal, we now expect that the commissioning process will be significantly concluded by the end of January 2015.

The Board is thankful to all stakeholders and our staff who have so far worked diligently to ensure an overall smooth commissioning process.

We look forward to the commencement of full and normal operations, which will pave the way for the commencement of phase two of the project including additional equipment to increase by-product production, the Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) export infrastructure as well as the onshore pipeline extension from Esiama to the Prestea-Tarkwa mining enclave.

SIGNED

Dr Kwesi Botchwey

Board Chairman

Accra: January 16, 2015