Ghana’s strategic stock keeping company, Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company, has allayed the fears of the public about the possibility of the company losing money due to a video capturing residents of Maame Water near Akosombo allegedly siphoning fuel from its pipeline.
According to BOST, the reported liquid was actually sludge consisting of water, dirt and fuel residue it had spilled during testing of the integrity of a pipeline being refurbished.
In a video sighted by this portal, residents of Maame Water were seen scooping fuel from an underground tunnel.
While some filled their gallons with fuel, others were heard calling out to get more gallons to fill them.
However, a statement from BOST has explained what occurred.
The company said its 71-kilometre pipeline which stretches from the Accra Plains Depot at Kpone in Tema to the Akosombo Depot at the banks of the Volta Lake had been decommissioned since 2015 due to vandalism by unknown assailants.
As a result, the company said it has since resorted to the use of Bulk Road Vehicle, popularly known as tankers in the haulage of petroleum products, from the Tema to Akosombo depots for onward transmission using badges to the Bui Depot.
BOST stated that repair works on the pipeline was commenced a year ago and was expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2022.
Unfortunately, the exercise delayed due to the impact of the construction of the railway line from Tema to Mpakadan in the Eastern Region, forcing them to re-route the pipeline.
As a further boost, the company said it commissioned the installation of an intrusion & leak detection system on the line for the safety and security of its operations when it is recommissioned.
“For a proper assessment of the degree of damage at the commencement of the repair works, water was pumped up the line to help with the full detection of all leakages for repairs.
“After the repair works, the company carried out a pressure testing of the line to be sure all the intrusions detected has been perfectly worked out. It is this pressure testing which resulted in the push out of a sludge in the Maame Water area which is been reported in the media. The sludge is a combination of water, dirt and fuel residue formed in the pipeline which was pushed out in the pressure testing,” the company explained in the statement.
The company emphasised that the tanks at the Maame Water depot have been empty over the last couple of years and BOST has not pumped products up the pipeline since the repair works are yet to be fully completed for a hand-over and recommissioning.
According to BOST, the exposed content of the line due to the testing has been foamed by the BOST team, with support from the Ghana National Fire Service and works are underway to ensure a clean-up of the area of the spillage.
The content with emphasis is water, dirt and fuel residue.
“We are satisfied with the level of work done and look forward to mending this single section of the 71-kilometre pipeline as we get ready to recommission it for utilisation by the first quarter of the year 2023.
“We wish to assure the public that the situation is under control and there are no financial cost implications of the said spillage since same was carried to check the integrity of the repaired pipeline.”
BOST said it would continue to serve the interest of the government and people of the Republic of Ghana by ensuring that the pipeline is put to use to reduce the cost of transportation of products in the country.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
