There has been an improvement in oil storage and delivery at the Bolgatanga Depot of the Bulk Oil Storage and Transport Company Limited (BOST) after the refurbishment of a fuel tank known as ‘Tank 303’.
The Bolgatanga BOST in the Upper East Region which was built in 1990 takes delivery of petroleum products through fuel pipelines linking Buipe Depot in the Savannah Region which also receives its products from Tema depot.
The depot which has a storage capacity of 46.5 million liters experienced evaporation losses between the years 2016 to 2020 as a result of the tank damaged thereby affecting delivery.
Ckukwuemeka Kingsley Aniebonam, the Bolgatanga Depot Manager said the successful repair of the oil tank will facilitate income generation both local and international.
“In the past, we were experiencing evaporation losses due to internal floating route seal damaged. So management thought it wise to have it repaired. After the repair was completed we have been able to utilize the tank effectively and efficiently to receive our products and sell them to our customers. It has boosted our storage capacity and we are able to meet our customer demands intends of the Sahelian market loading, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger.”
This came to light when Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) working in the oil and gas sector of the country paid a familiarization tour to the Bolgatanga Depot of BOST. Mr. Aniebonam added that the company also carried out some repair works on its pipelines which boosted its operation after some damages were detected due to repair works undertaken by GRIDCO.
The General Manager of BOST, Edwin Alfred Provencal announced that plans are underway to add a storage capacity of about 40 million liter tanks to capture 40 percent of the Sahelian market.
“This Depot is going to play a critical role in the economic development of this country with respect to foreign exchange reserves. Because it is position strategically to take advantage of the African Free Trade Continental Agreement (AFTCA) where petroleum products can be exported to neighboring countries that will be a huge boost for the economy”.
The purpose of the visit by the CSOs in the energy sector was to ensure there is accountability from BOST for the margins it collects in the Price Build-Up (PUP) of petroleum products.
Source: A1Radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Joshua Asaah
