The Ghana National Gas Company has awarded the contract for Project Management Consulting Services for the implementation of the Western Corridor Gas Infrastructure Development Project to AECOM Technology Corporation (AECOM), Houston - Texas. AECOM is a US based global provider of professional technical and management support services. The US$ 15.6 million contract was signed on Wednesday, February 20, 2013. Under the terms of the agreement, AECOM will take over construction and engineering management from Ghana Gas, conduct Factory Acceptance Testing of all critical equipment, supervise integration of all systems, perform pre-commissioning and commissioning of the entire systems and manage transition from construction to operational startup. AECOM will also develop the Project Management Directorate of Ghana Gas by providing training to Ghana Gas personnel in project management “AECOM’s provision of professional technical management support is perfectly in line with Ghana Gas’ strategy to employ the most advanced technology and project management systems in delivering high quality, reliable gas processing and delivery infrastructure. We believe that our strategic partnership with AECOM will help achieve greater efficiency in the Project implementation and also enable core Ghana Gas staff to focus on the commercial and other critical dimensions of our corporate strategy" said Dr. Kwesi Botchwey, Chairman of the Board, at the signing ceremony. Hitherto, the execution of the project has been supervised by personnel of Ghana Gas, as well as specialist staff seconded from the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), the Energy Commission (EC), the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company (BOST). In addition, other independent Consultants were engaged by Ghana Gas to provide Quality Assurance & Quality Control advisory Services. The project execution is now at the stage where the additional complementary services of an industry-experienced and competent project management company to support the Ghana Gas to enhance the project management, expedite construction completion, conduct factory acceptance testing and integration of facilities and systems, perform pre-commissioning and commissioning as well as manage transition to operational startup, have become particularly critical. In a similar release in the USA and other media outlets, AECOM has also expressed its commitment to support the effective delivery of its services to meet, if not exceed the expectations of Ghana Gas. The Western Corridor Gas Infrastructure Project (WCGIP) Project comprises the following components: a) 45km offshore pipeline to link to the existing Deep water Pipeline of the Jubilee Fields; b) 111km onshore pipleline to the VRA Aboadze power plant enclave; c) Gas Processing Plant at Atuabo complete with LPG storage tanks and a loading gantry for discharge of LPG and other condensates; d) Natural Gas Liquids (NGLs) Export System comprising a pipeline, NGLs Tank Farm to be sited at Domunli as well as an Catenary Anchor Leg Mooring (CALM) Buoy for handling sea-going vessels; and e) An Operations and Controls Complex at the project site. Ghana Gas is a limited liability company with the sole responsibility to build, own and operate infrastructure required for gathering, processing, transporting and marketing of natural gas resources in the country.