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08.06.2005 General News

VRA boss explains 'controversial' gas discovery

08.06.2005 LISTEN
By JOY ONLINE

The Chief Executive of the Volta River Authority, Joshua Kofi Ofedie says natural gas in the Western Region is beginning to attract business interest.

He was speaking to Joy News at the opening of the 15th Congress of the Union of Producers, Transporters and Distributors of Electric Power in Africa, in Accra today.

Natural gas was discovered some thirteen years ago at Tanoso fields in the Western Region. But uncertainties about the commercial viability left the discovery unexplored.

The subject came only recently during President Kufuor interview on the Voice of America.

No official of the energy ministry has yet been able to provide details on the existence of the natural gas.

But the VRA Boss Mr. Ofedie says new information on the discovery could have prompted the president's announcement.

“ Well there is gas in the Western region in the Tano fields and that is one of the reasons the Osagyefo barge was sent to the Western region. So it is likely that some new data has come up, which has made him declare the commercial viability of the venture, we are yet to look at the figures and see exactly where the gas is,” he says

Mr. Ofedie told Joy News that the original discovery could have been explored over a ten-year period.

“We know that there's always been gas there except that it has not attracted funding for it. It appears now, investors are interested in the gas and that is how come the announcement. As far as I know there is some gas there for a minimum of 10 years… he says.

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