Ghana has presented a concept paper on a gas supply project to the Ivorian government for power generation as part of efforts to expand existing collaboration between the two nations on energy.
Currently, Ghana and the French West African country share power depending on availability, demand and supply.
But the proposed deal, currently at an infant stage, when actualised, will expand the existing collaboration between the two nations in the energy sector beyond power supply.
It will provide an opportunity for Ghana and Ivory Coast to extend their energy collaboration from existing power supply to cover critical sectors of gas economy and, by extension, the energy value chain, among others.
This means the two nations will share common gas infrastructure and affiliate platforms through an agreement as the collaboration receives attention from governments of both countries.
This latest move, the brainchild of the Ministry of Energy and Ghana National Gas Company (GNGC), follows new plans cultivated by Ghana government to expand the country’s multi-billion-dollar gas economy, extend existing opportunities in the country’s broader energy sector to French West Africa, and in reverse tap into opportunities available there in for Ghana using Ivory Coast as the starting point.
Deputy Minister for Energy in charge of Finance and Infrastructure, Joseph Cudjoe, who led a powerful government delegation last Friday to Ivory Coast to open up discussion on the deal, briefed the Ivorian government after holding an open discussion with the Vice-President of La Cote d’Ivoire, Daniel Kablan Duncan.
According to Cudjoe, when the deal goes through as being envisaged, it will offer the two nations an opportunity to commit to a partnership that will further enhance existing collaboration in the energy sector.
He explained that the deal, worth $100 million for execution in terms of extension of the gas infrastructure, will become one of the win-win priority projects in the energy sector for both countries in terms of guaranteeing their energy security.
The Deputy Minister and his entourage first met with the Ministry of Petroleum, Energy, and Renewable Energy, Cote d’Ivoire, where he briefed the sector Minister on the proposed project and its relevance to the energy security of the two nations.
Abdourahmane Cisse, the Ivorian Minister for Petroleum, welcomed the initiative, noting that existing collaboration between the two nations in the energy sector will be deepened following this deal.
The concept paper presented to the Ivorian government indicates that the main objective of the project is primarily to extend the gas infrastructure from Ghana’s end to Ivory Coast.
It will then form part of the Natural Gas Transmission Network System (NGTS) to be extended from Atuabo in Ghana to Sringabo in Ivory Coast along the western border of Ghana for supply of natural gas to Ivory Coast and other potential off-takers along the pipeline route.
Technically, the project will involve the construction of a 20-inch, 52km gas pipeline from Atuabo to Sringabo, to transport about 100-150 mmscfd of natural gas to serve Ivory Coast and other potential off-takers.
Per the preliminary discussions held, this was the first time the two countries were meeting on this project.
The Deputy Minister for Energy in charge of Finance and Infrastructure, Joseph Cudjoe, in briefing the Ivorian Minister for Energy on the project, added that the detailed project document will be sent to his outfit for their study and consideration.
The Ghanaian delegation was made up of Joseph Cudjoe, Deputy Minister for Energy in charge of Finance and Infrastructure; Awulae Amihere Kpanyili III, Board Member of Ghana National Gas Company; Dr Ben Asante, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ghana National Gas Company; Ghana’s Ambassador to Ivory Coast, H.E, Fred Laryea; and host of the Jolly Breakfast Show on Skyy Power, Samuel Kojo Brace.
Source: The Finder
