The Ghana Gas Company Limited has been given the green light to build a separate pipeline from the Atuabo Gas Plant in the western region to Tema in Greater Accra region.

This is to allow for an independent piping of processed gas from the Aboadze plant to the Tema enclave.

Earlier the BOST was originally given the right to construct and maintain the pipeline.

But the move was met with a strong opposition from the local union of the Ghana Petroleum and Chemical workers union at Ghana Gas who insisted that the mandate for building gas pipelines was that of Ghana gas.

The new line is estimated to cost between 250 million dollars and 500 million dollars.

The gas pipeline will serve as an alternative medium to the West Africa gas pipeline (WAGP) which is being linked to the Atuabo Pipeline to allow for reverse flow of gas.

Currently, the Atuabo Gas processing plant has been temporarily shut down for routine maintenance.

The exercise which commenced on August 31st, 2016, is expected to last for ten calendar days.

According to the company, the decision has become necessary as the plant has operated for over 12,000 hours since pre-commissioning and commissioning activities in 2014.

Ghana Gas is mandated to build, own and operate infrastructure required for the gathering, processing, transporting and marketing of natural gas resources in the country.

source:citifmonline