Ghana Assures Burkina Faso Of Support To Boost Petroleum Imports

Ghana’s downstream petroleum regulator, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), has pledged strong support to Burkina Faso’s National Hydrocarbon Company (SONABHY) as the landlocked country moves to increase its petroleum imports from Ghana.

Burkina Faso currently sources about 24% of its national petroleum needs from Ghana but is targeting to increase this to 50%.

To achieve this, SONABHY is planning to construct a pipeline from the Tema Port oil jetty to connect the Blue Ocean facility within the Tema Industrial enclave and is also holding talks with Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) for storage facilities.

A delegation led by Burkina Faso’s Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. David Kabré, and SONABHY Director General, Aime Wendpanga Nongkouni, paid a courtesy call on NPA Chief Executive Officer, Godwin Edudzi Tameklo Esq., to discuss the initiative.

Ambassador Kabré commended the NPA for its continued support, while Mr. Nongkouni expressed satisfaction with the growing collaboration, particularly with TOR.

Mr. Nongkouni also disclosed that his government is committed to scaling up supply volumes, adding: “Our head of state is keen on ensuring that we increase our volumes. We are considering building a pipeline from the jetty to the Blue Ocean facility so products can be received directly.”

In response, Mr. Tameklo reaffirmed Ghana’s readiness to deepen bilateral ties, noting that discussions have already been held with the President of Ghana on building a second Conventional Buoy Mooring (CBM) to boost supply capacity.

He noted that the first CBM could even be dedicated to SONABHY once the second one is constructed.

“If we do things right, Burkina Faso will rely on us more than looking elsewhere. We are committed to making this relationship stronger,” he said.

He further assured that Ghana will continue to explore both short- and long-term measures, including enhanced road and potential railway infrastructure from Kumasi through Tamale to Burkina Faso, to make product distribution more efficient.

“President Mahama was pleased when I engaged him about your idea that we can use rail transport instead of the pipeline if we are able to get proper railway infrastructure from Kumasi to Tamale, and Tamale to Burkina. It will become easier for us to transport products. So we are looking at both short-, medium- and long-term goals. Be rest assured that we will do everything we can to make your work at SONABHY better.”

Source: https://energynewsafrica.com