THE SENIOR Staff of Ghana Gas Company Limited in the Western Region have indicated that they are against government’s decision to allow Genser Energy Ghana Limited to build a gas processing plant with raw gas from the Jubilee fields.
Genser Energy is an independent power producer serving multinational clients in the industrial and mining sectors.
They said Ghana Gas’ existing Processing Plant and a second one, which was yet to be built, could process an expected 200 million standard cubic feet (mmscfd) maximum output from the Jubilee Fields until such a time that the maximum output went beyond 350 mmscfd.
They noted that the yet-to-be built Genser gas processing plant was expected to take a minimum of 50 mmscfd out of the expected 200 mmscfd from the Jubilee Fields.
“And this will impact negatively on the existence of the state-owned gas processing plants,” they asserted.
According to the workers, Genser was currently the only consumer of the processed gas delivered by a 75-kilometre pipeline which was currently serving the Prestea enclave with processed gas.
“If the foreign entity is allowed to own the gas processing plant and competes with state-owned gas processing plants for the cheapest source of raw gas, it will take over the Prestea enclave in terms of gas supply,” they added.
The workers noted that from all indications within the industry, it would take a longer period for the 350 mmscfd output from the Jubilee Fields to materialise.
“Hence, having a private-owned gas processing plant to compete with Ghana Gas for raw gas from the same source is a recipe for disaster,” they said.
This was contained in a statement by the Senior Staff Association of Ghana Gas and signed by its chairman, Richmond Alamu.
Ministry Reacts
Meanwhile, the Minister of Energy, Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has stated that neither he, nor anyone acting on behalf of the ministry, had signed any contract with Genser.
A statement issued by the Communication and Public Affairs Unit of the ministry said the only contract signed with Genser on record were by GNGC and Ghana National Petroleum Company (GNPC) which predated the minister’s tenure at the ministry.
“At the appropriate time, we will fully come out will all the necessary documentation in respect of the matter,” the statement added.
FROM Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi