Maintain operational excellence – Akufo-Addo charges bitumen terminal partners GOIL plc and SMB
President Akufo-Addo said the US$40 million-dollar project stands as evidence of what can be achieved when we pull our resources, expertise, and resolve as nations within the ECOWAS community
President Akufo-Addo has charged GOIL PLC of Ghana and Société Multinationale de Bitumes (SMB) of Côte d’lvoire, the two institutions who have partnered to establish a Bitumen processing facility in Ghana to ensure that they maintain operational excellence at the world class facility.
President Akufo-Addo said the US$40 million-dollar project stands as evidence of what can be achieved when we pull our resources, expertise, and resolve as nations within the ECOWAS community.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony of the African Bitumen Terminal (A GOIL/SMB Joint Venture) on Thursday, 12 September 2024, in Tema, President Akufo-Addo said the establishment of the plant opens the door for Ghana and Cóte d’Ivoire to become exporters of Bitumen to countries within the West Africa 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 kilometers of road since 2017. I strongly believe that the contribution of the GOIL, SMB Bitumen plant will compliment 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,” Akufo-Addo added.
Cooperation
Robert Beugré Mambé, Prime Minister of the Republic of Cóte d’Ivoire, who represented the Ivorian President, Alassane Ouattara, in his address said the commissioning of the joint Bitumen Terminal marks a new elevated chapter in the diplomatic and bilateral relations between Ghana and Cóte d’Ivoire. He indicated that the Ivorian President, Alassane Ouattara, is delighted about the materialization of the project as he looks forward to the success of the Bitumen production facility.
Stop Bitumen imports
In his address, group chief executive office and managing director of GOIL PLC, Kwame Osei-Prempeh, said with the commissioning of the project, Bitumen, which is a commodity that is much needed for road construction would be very much available directly in the country to support the massive road construction agenda of government. He called on the government to ensure that the importation of Bitumen into the country through approved and unapproved routes and processes is stopped.
Zero-carbon emission
The Minister of State at the Energy Ministry, Herbert Krapa in his remarks said that the Bitumen plant is not only an achievement for the road sector, but it is also going to have a positive impact on the entire Ghanaian economy. He called on the managers of the facility to target zero carbon emission throughout its various operational levels.
“Today, being responsible in our carbon emissions 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.
African Bitumen Terminal
The African Bitumen Terminal and production plant is a GOIL PLC and Société Multinationale de Bitumes (SMB), Côte d’lvoire partnership project It has a production plant capacity of 7,500MT, and it is situated at Tema, in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana.
The main operations of the facility include the transfer of bitumen from Bitumen Tanker vessels at the Oil Jetty to the Terminal, the storage of bitumen AC 10 & AC 20 into dedicated tanks, production of Polymer Modified Bitumen (PMB), production of Bitumen Emulsions, Laboratory testing for quality of products and distribution of products through bitumen bulk trucks, bitutainers and drums.
The terminal mainly consists of two bitumen storage tanks of capacity 1X4,000 MT (AC 20) & 1X2,000 MT (AC 10), one (1) Blend Stock tank of 450 MT capacity, 2X15 MT Mixing tanks (for PMB), and 3X133 MT Letdown tanks (for PMB), 2X133 MT emulsion storage tanks. Products that will be available at the terminal are Raw Bitumen (AC 10 & AC 20), Polymer Modified Bitumen (PMB), and Bitumen Emulsions.
Reporting by Wilberforce Asare in Tema
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