Veep Commissions New Liquid Bulk Terminal and cuts sod for construction of Dry Bulk Terminal at Takoradi Port
Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E. Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has commissioned the new Liquid Bulk Terminal at the Takoradi Port in the Western Region.
The facility which was constructed by the Amandi Ghana Limited comes with modern loading structures, and with a berth of minus 14 meters to receive loading vessels for all petroleum products.
The newly commissioned Liquid Bulk Terminal comes with loading arms for 5 petroleum products, and has a berth facility which is designed to support up to 60k petroleum cargo carriers.
It is expected to provide about 50 per cent of the country’s domestic oil consumption, and enhance the transhipment of petroleum products to other countries.
The project was partnered by IBISTEK, a wholly Ghanaian entity with the Ghana Port and Harbours Authority (GPHA) and forms part of the Takoradi Port Expansion Project which is being transformed into a world class marine facility.
Dr. Bawumia at the Commissioning of the facility said that the government had within its vision to make the Western Region a petroleum hub through the Port.
He pointed out that the project is a milestone and deserves commendation in that it will support the Integrated Aluminium and Bauxite Corporation.
Board Chairman for the GPHA, Peter Mac Manu opined that the commissioning of the facility is fulfillment to their commitment to fast track the development of the Port and in line with the national development goals.
Dr. Bawumiah also cut sod for the Phase II of the construction of the Dry Bulk Terminal, which is christened the Atlantic Terminal Limited.
Minister for Transport, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah hinted that with an operational capacity of just 6.5 million metric tonnes per annum for bulk cargo, the Terminal will bring to total the capacity of the port to handle about 18.5 million metric tonnes each year.
He mentioned that work on this project is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2022.
Western Regional Minister, Kobby Okyere Darko-Mensah opined that the investment of the NPP government in the region in terms of infrastructure like ongoing road constructions in the various districts, coastal protection and development, railway development and education is unmatched.
He pointed out that members in the region have resolved to position the region as a preferred investment and tourism destination where the indigenous people will own and retain the productive asset in combination with the private sector.
He emphasized that the expanded bulk facilities and the capacity and the development of other related infrastructure like the railway will not only allow the Takoradi Port to meet the increasing international trade and enhance its corporate policy, but the region also stands to provide better and sustained jobs for the teeming youth.
It would be recalled that on December 5th, 2013, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama cut the sod for the commencement of the expansion of the Takoradi port.
The work which forms part of the government infrastructural expansion program was being done in phases to modernize the country’s Port.
It is also a fact that until that project commenced, the Takoradi Port since 1928 had never seen any form of expansion work.
This Phase 1 was successfully executed by a Belgian contractor named, JAN DE NUL.
The project included the reclamation of 53 hectares of land, the dredging and extending the breakwaters, and also the construction of a new oil and gas jetty and bulk container to create space to handle larger vessels and to accommodate about 100,000 metric tonnes of cargo.
Story: Seth Ameyaw Danquah
