Ghana beats Nigeria, transports most fuel through barges, pipelines than road
At a time the Government of Ghana has moved away from the dangerous mode of petroleum products haulage on roads to barges and pipelines, Nigeria is still using roads as means of moving products.
Business Hilights Ghana Bureau Chief reports that the management of Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation (BOST) has stated that their Asset utilization has risen from 15 per cent to 85 per cent.
The group averred that they said more of their fuel was transported by barges and pipelines than road transport.
Though the new feat has rendered Tanker drivers jobless because of lack of stock at their depots to move on the roads, Ghanaian industry observers say the development is the best bet for products anywhere in the world.
In a statement reacting to the Ghana National Petroleum Tanker Drivers Union and made available to Business Hilights, BOST said the transmission of fuel from their Primary Depot in Accra to Kumasi, Buipe, Akosombo and Bolga Depots were carried out through three modules: Road (Tankers, Pipeline and River Barges via the VoltaLake.
“BOST has two pipelines connecting the Tema-Akosombo and Buipe-Bolgatanga Depots.
“Over the past few years the two pipelines have been down and all the four river barges on the Volta Lake were also grounded.”
The statement said efficient resource utilization and focused management had resulted in the full repair of four-river barges that were grounded and the two pipelines.
The statement said the Tema- Akosombo pipeline was expected to be in use by the close of the third quarter, while the river barge from Akosombo to Buipe takes 5,309,000/5400 litres, which was equal to 98 trucks . Pipeline is expected to be in use by close of the third quarter.
“In the process, more volumes of product get transferred to the northern depot through to Bolgatanga and other regions.”
It said for a faster and quicker movement of volumes to meet the increasing export demands the barges and pipelines were more efficient hence their inability to serve the Tanker drivers who used the roads.
