Ghana is expected to begin the production of natural gas this year from the National Gas Processing Plant at Atuabo, in the Western Region, President John Mahama has announced.
He said the gas would initially feed the Aboadze Thermal Plant for the purposes of power generation and the proposed fertilizer processing plant, also in the region, before up-scaling to commercial production.
Speaking during a courtesy call on him by the Western Regional House of Chiefs at the Castle, Osu in Accra yesterday, President Mahama stated that it was the intention of the government to accelerate the oil and gas industry to offer alternative employments avenue for the youth.
He expressed concern about the activities of small-scale illegal miners (galamsey), which he said, was taking a huge toll on the environment and called for concerted efforts of the government and traditional rulers to stem the practice.
Led by Osagyefo Dr Kwamena Enimil, President of the House, the Chiefs were at the Castle to congratulate President Mahama on his election and inauguration as the President of Ghana and to express their support.
President Mahama noted that about one billion dollars of the Chinese Development Bank facility had been sunk into gas processing plant, the fertilizer processing plant and the free zones enclave for the downstream petrochemical industry in the region.
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