A $40 million African Bitumen Terminal and manufacturing plant have been put into service in the Tema industrial enclave by Ghana’s top indigenous oil marketing company, GOIL PLC, and its partner, Côte d’lvoire’s Société Multinationale de Bitumes (SMB).
The 7,500 MT facility’s primary activities are the following: bitumen is transferred from bitumen tanker vessels at the oil jetty to the terminal; bitumen AC 10 & AC 20 are stored in dedicated tanks; bitumen emulsions are produced; bitumen is modified in a laboratory; bitumen bulk trucks, bitumen containers, and drums are used for product distribution.
Two 1X4,000 MT (AC 20) and 1X2,000 MT (AC 10) bitumen storage tanks, one 450 MT blend stock tank, two 2X15 MT mixing tanks (for PMB), three 3X133 MT letdown tanks (for PMB), and two 2X133 MT emulsion storage tanks make up the majority of the terminal.
PMB, bitumen emulsions, and raw bitumen (AC 10 & AC 20) will all be sold at the terminal.
According to Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo, “the US$40 million-dollar project stands as evidence of what can be achieved when we pool our resources, expertise and resolve as nations within the ECOWAS community.” The facility was officially opened on Thursday, September 12, 2024.
According to him, the establishment of the plant opens the door for Ghana and Cóte d’Ivoire to become exporters of bitumen to countries within the West African region and beyond.
“This facility has come at the right time. My government is undertaking the most expensive expansion of the road network ever seen in this country, with the construction of some 12,000 kilometres of road since 2017.
“I strongly believe that the contribution of the Goil, SMB Bitumen plant will complement fully government’s efforts in road construction.
“As we commission this plant today, it is crucial that we look to the future and consider its broader implications.
“This Bitumen plant will not only meet the needs of Ghana’s road construction sector, but it will also create significant opportunities for exports, particularly within the ECOWAS community,” President Akufo-Addo said.
“The economic and social benefits of this facility will ripple across our economy, contributing to foreign exchange earnings, job creation, and enhanced technological expertise. The importance of ensuring that this facility runs effectively and efficiently cannot be overemphasized.
“This plant must operate at the highest standards, ensuring that the Bitumenous product produced here is of the highest quality and meets international specifications,” he added.
The opening of the joint bitumen terminal signified a new, higher chapter in the diplomatic and bilateral ties between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, according to H.E. Robert Beugré Mambé, Prime Minister of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, who was speaking on behalf of Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara.
He said the President of Ivory Coast was happy to see the project come to fruition and expressed optimism for the success of the bitumen producing plant.
Mr. Kwame Osei-Prempeh, the Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer of Goil PLC, stated that with the project’s commissioning, bitumen—a commodity highly necessary for road construction—will be readily available domestically to support the government’s massive road construction agenda.
He urged the administration to make sure that bitumen imports into the nation are prohibited via both authorised and unauthorised channels and procedures.
The bitumen factory, according to Mr. Herbert Krapa, Minister of State in the Energy Ministry, is a success not only for the road industry but also for the Ghanaian economy as a whole.
He called on the managers of the facility to target zero carbon emission throughout its various operational levels.
“Today, being responsible in our carbon emmissions has now left the realm of being an option; we are seeing right before our own eyes all the signs of a fast-warming globe, and we know; we can’t wait any longer to take decisive action.
“This plant must be a zero-carbon emission model for others to follow. It must contribute directly to our efforts of reaching net-zero in the next few years, and it must ensure energy efficiency at all levels,” Herbert Krappa remarked.
“Explore renewable energy sources for the running of the plant; run your trucks on compressed natural gas, and develop carbon sinks for hard-to-abate areas,” he further remarked.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com