Ghana opens new 6,000-tonne LPG terminal as first cargo arrives by ship

Pinned summary · as of 15:52

A new liquefied petroleum gas terminal able to hold 6,000 metric tonnes has been opened in Ghana, and its first shipment came in aboard the MT Asharami Ghana. Energy and Green Transition Minister John Abdulai Jinapor attended the ceremony alongside people from the downstream petroleum industry. The facility was built by Asharami Ghana, a member of the Sahara Group.

What we know

• The terminal, with room for 6,000 metric tonnes of LPG, has been commissioned, and the tanker MT Asharami Ghana has already made the first delivery into it.
• Minister Jinapor took part in the commissioning with players from the downstream petroleum sector, and Citi Newsroom reported that Asharami Ghana, part of the Sahara Group, developed the site.
• The reports agree the terminal is meant to lift the country's LPG storage capacity and help keep supplies steady.
• Mr Jinapor said the project is vital to the government's aim of reaching at least 50% LPG access by 2030, and that storage investment supports cleaner cooking, energy security and a sturdier supply chain.
• The minister thanked Asharami Ghana and the Sahara Group for investing, and said the project could open up work in trading, logistics, transportation and distribution.
• MyJoyOnline and Atinka Online both reported that Mr Jinapor stressed the role of private-sector money in growing LPG infrastructure.

Why it matters for Ghana

Many households in Accra, Kumasi and other towns cook with LPG, so a steadier gas supply matters to families and to chop bars and other small food businesses that rely on it. The government's 50% access goal for 2030 depends on storage and distribution capacity growing, according to the minister. Jobs in haulage, trading and distribution could also follow, as Mr Jinapor suggested.