New Gas Plant to Transform Ghana’s Energy Sector-Dr. Ato Forson

Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has extolled the virtues of the forthcoming Second Gas Processing Plant (GPP II), hailing it as a transformative initiative poised to revolutionize the country’s energy paradigm, catalyze job creation, and yield substantial economic savings.

During the inauguration of the GPP II Implementation Committee at the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition, Dr. Forson underscored the imperative of diversifying Ghana’s energy mix, citing the exorbitant costs associated with the country’s over-reliance on liquid fuels, which drain the Ghana’s coffers to the tune of over $1 billion annually.

“Without the pioneering Atuabo Gas Plant, Ghana would have been mired in an energy crisis. Today, we stand at the precipice of a similar opportunity to secure our future,” he declared. Dr. Forson projected that the new Gas Processing Plant will yield significant economic benefits, saving the country approximately $500 million biennially, thereby ensuring the project’s viability within a relatively short timeframe, while generating over 1,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities.

In a joint effort, the Finance Minister and Energy Minister John Abdulai Jinapor inaugurated the technical committee tasked with overseeing the project’s implementation.

Dr. Forson charged the committee, led by the Deputy Minister for Energy, to deliver a comprehensive implementation plan within a stringent four-week timeline, emphasizing that Ghana can ill afford further delays in critical infrastructure development.

“This project is pivotal to our nation’s economic stability and welfare. It is high time we eschew bureaucratic red tape and expedite its execution,” he stressed.

Energy Minister John Jinapor echoed Dr. Forson’s sentiments, lamenting the slow progress made in developing supplementary gas processing infrastructure since the Atuabo Gas Plant’s commissioning.

Upon completion, the GPP II is anticipated to bolster Ghana’s natural gas supply for power generation and industrial utilization, thereby reducing the country’s dependence on liquid fuels and mitigating foreign exchange pressures.

This landmark project is also expected to establish Ghana as a regional energy hub, fostering long-term economic growth and development.

Industry experts have welcomed the initiative, predicting that the successful implementation of the GPP II will stabilize power generation costs, enhance reliability, and significantly enhance investor confidence in Ghana’s energy sector.