Gas pipelines at Tema torched by suspected arsonists

Some persons suspected to be arsonists have torched some gas pipelines within the Tema enclave.

According to the Public Relations Officer for the Energy Ministry, Nana Damoah, the torched pipelines were discovered by some security men during their regular checks.

“Last night, some security men doing some regular checks along the pipelines that take one of the generating plants within the Tema enclave discovered that some persons had packed car tyres over some pipelines that were transmitting fuel to the generation plant and had torched these tyres, so the [pipelines] were burning,” he said in an interview on Accra-based Citi FM.

Read also: Saboteurs behind GRIDCo tower collapse - Energy Minister

He added that the police have begun investigating the incident to arrest the culprits.

“This is a very sad development for all of us. It gets more confusing and it gets sadder that as we are facing challenges and working hard to get the people of Ghana out of the challenges that we are facing, there are some very determined persons who also wish that we will stay in the condition for a longer period. Investigations into this development have began,” he added.

Related: We’ll not hesitate to shoot and kill saboteurs – GRIDCo security

Mr. Damoah was however quick to add that the gas pipelines could be repaired, adding that the development will not affect power supply “in anyway”.

He additionally said the Energy Ministry is working hard to ensure that persons seeking to destroy properties belonging to the Energy Ministry are dealt with.

The incident comes in the wake of recent power outages in parts of Accra.

Cirrus Energy pipelines

Meanwhile Graphic Online has gathered that the pipelines belong to a private petroleum Bulk Distribution Company, Cirrus Energy.

The pipelines located within the Tema Power Enclave serves as transportation lines for the company's petroleum tank farm located within the area.

Earlier reports had suggested the pipelines are conduits through which gas is transported to power the country's electricity generating plants located in the enclave reports Della Russel Ocloo.

But the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo), Mr Jonathan Amoako Baah told Graphic Online that the lines belong to the BDC.

"I know fuel passes through the pipelines but cannot confirm where exactly they are transmitted to..., but if they go to any of the stations, then, it means, they are meant for power, but I know for a fact that the lines belong to Cirrus Energy", Mr Amoako Baah said in a telephone interview.

GRIDCo, he said may have to enquire from the producers within the enclave whether they take petroleum supplies from the pipelines.