THE GHANIAIN Ministry of Energy is to extend the petroleum products pipeline from Buipe in the Northern region to Bolga in the Upper East region of the country. According to a representative of the Bulk Oil Storage and Transport (BOST), Asare Bediako, the project will ensure cost-effective bulk transportation of petroleum products to the northern sector of the country. Speaking at a stakeholders meeting in Tamale recently, Mr Bediako said the project cost was estimated at $40.5million, and would take 26 months to complete. It would be funded with a loan of $38.2million from K-Exim Bank with Samsung Corporation as financiers. The government of Ghana will provide equity of $2.3million to cover the cost of local consultancy, land acquisition, right-of-the-way survey, and soil tests.
The 8-in diameter, 275-km long, Buipe-Bolatanga petroleum products pipeline will transport 474,011cum/yr of diesel, petrol, and kerosene from a the pumping station at Buipe – supplied by river barge from Akosombo – to the receiving station at Bolgatanga via a booster station at Savelugu, about 30km from Tamale.