Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago to collaborate
A delegation of technical personnel from Trinidad and Tobago’s energy sector will be in the country today to explore ways in which the Caribbean country can collaborate with Ghana to develop its gas infrastructure.
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The visit will mark the resuscitation of partnership discussions which started between 2009 but stalled because of changes in leadership in both countries.
The Honorary Consular of Trinidad and Tobago, Mr John Mitchel, speaking to the Daily Graphic in Tema, said the technical team, made up of personnel of the national gas company and its national energy authority, would meet with gas industry authorities, as well as the Minister of Energy and Petroleum, to outline their objectives, going forward.
The team will also meet and hold discussions with the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) and visit the Atuabo Gas Processing Plant, where they will hold discussions with the leadership of Ghana Gas Company Ltd.
Areas earmarked for discussion include adding value to Ghana’s gas resource and the expansion of the Atuabo Gas Plant, such as its extension to improve the flow of gas to the Eastern corridor to help stabilise and fairly distribute power generation across the country.
Past collaborations
Trinidad and Tobago has been producing oil for more than 100 years. However, in the 1970s it started adding value to its associated gas to produce ammonia and methanol for industrial and commercial use.
Its gas processing sector is almost fully manned by local hands, as it developed a local content law which enabled its citizens to master their art and take over the reins of the industry.
The Caribbean country, which supplies 60 per cent of America’s Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and the world’s largest producer of ammonia and methanol, offered to partner Ghana to add value to its gas resource, shortly after Ghana discovery of oil in commercial quantities in 2007.
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Subsequently, it assisted Ghana with technical expertise to develop the Local Content and Local Participation in Petroleum Activities Regulation which is currently in place.
Trinidad and Tobago was to enter into partnership with Ghana’s energy authorities to develop a gas infrastructure that was to be in place ahead of the first flow of oil, but the discussions stalled when leadership changed in that country in 2010. Ghana, therefore, had to look for new partners and settled on China.
That notwithstanding, discussions have been ongoing between Ghana and Trinidad and Tobago since 2010.
Background
With prices hovering around $100 and $120 per barrel of oil when Ghana discovered oil in 2007, prices have been falling in recent times to the current $30 a barrel as of last week, with predictions it may drop further to $20 a barrel.
With such uncertainties and a large chunk of the oil resource controlled by foreign companies, Ghana’s sure bet is to develop its gas infrastructure and position itself as a petrochemical hub of Africa.