The Parliamentary Select Committee on Energy upon the invitation of Ghana National Gas Limited Company paid a working visit to the Gas Processing Plant in Atuabo in the Western Region.

Ghana Gas has been responsible for providing lean gas for a significant portion of Ghana’s power sector.

The Minister of Energy approved for Ghana Gas to undertake this shutdown and maintenance of its plant.

The committee was represented by the Leadership and Clerk, led by the Chairman, William Owuraku Aidoo and the committee was led through the plant by Dr. Ben K.D. Asante.

He emphasised the importance of this exercise, citing cases of insurance, and the numerical advantage to the state.

The Maintenance Head, Ing. Richmond Alamu ran the committee through a breakdown of works handled ranging from the Installation of the New Standby Product Cooler Unit and associated works, the Tower Internals Refurbishment Works, the De-euthanizer Process Tower Internals Inspection/Refurbishment Works, the Calibration and Servicing of Pressure Safety Valves, the Calibration of Transmitters and Static Gauges, the Repair/Replacement of Defective Valves and Servicing of ESDVs, Control and Blowdown Valves.

At the Anorkyi Metering Compression Station (AMCS), the Mechanical Inspection/Servicing of all static and rotating equipment was executed.

Answering questions, the maintenance lead ran the committee members through a cost breakdown. He cited the use of in-house expertise to ensure the work was done before the scheduled time.

The total cost of the exercise undertaken, according to him, was over $5 million.

The committee expressed their appreciation for the exercise. They commended the Chief Executive, Dr. Ben Asante for the technical knowledge exhibited over the period.

The Maintenance Team was commended for the technical know-how expressed in their work with the various contractors and also for working extra hours to save 3 days of completing the Shutdown Maintenance activities early in so saving the nation huge amounts of crude purchases.