Ghana to lead ECOWAS adoption of Accra Convention on cargo documents – Trade Minister

Ghana's goal of increasing access to cleaner cooking fuel has been bolstered by the inauguration of a 6,000-metric-tonne liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) storage facility by Asharami Ghana at the Tema Oil Jetty. This terminal is expected to enhance LPG availability and supply dependability, contributing to the nation's aim of ensuring at least 50 percent LPG access by 2030.

The facility adds roughly 10 percent to Ghana's LPG storage capacity, marking the first stage of a projected 12,000-metric-tonne terminal. At the opening in the previous week, Godwin Kudzo Tameklo, Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), stated that the investment would reinforce the necessary infrastructure for expanding LPG access.

"With this investment, Sahara Group now represents about 10 percent of Ghana's total LPG storage capacity. This significant addition to our national infrastructure will bolster supply reliability as Ghana strives to expand LPG access," he explained. As part of Sahara Group's extensive LPG infrastructure plan, the project integrates shipping, storage, and distribution to strengthen the supply chain.

Tameklo also noted that the terminal functions continuously, operating around the clock, seven days a week. This aligns with President John Dramani Mahama's vision for a 24-hour economy, illustrating how strategic private-sector investments can promote ongoing economic activity and fortify key economic sectors. Asharami Ghana's Facility Manager, Abayomi Oyenuga, revealed that the terminal consists of two propane-rated spherical tanks capable of storing approximately 12,000 cubic meters.

He further revealed that an automated system manages operations from LPG receipt to dispatch. The terminal also includes six loading bays, seven product pumps, an LPG liquid compressor, and a dedicated 12-inch pipeline stretching 3.5 kilometers. Safety systems like fire protection, emergency-response, and preventive maintenance mechanisms have been integrated to ensure secure and efficient operations.

Wale Ajibade, Executive Director of Sahara Group, emphasized that the investment underscored the company's commitment to long-term energy security and economic growth. "The facility bolsters Ghana's LPG value chain and strengthens the country's standing as a regional hub for energy access and distribution," he said. The terminal will operate in conjunction with the MT Asharami Ghana, a 40,000-cubic-meter LPG carrier that recently transported around 5,000 metric tonnes of LPG to Ghana.

Together, the vessel and terminal establish an integrated connection between marine deliveries, onshore storage, and distribution, bolstering both domestic supply and regional trade.