EMEA News
GOIL: Ghana Only Meeting a Fraction of its Potential Bunker Market Demand
Noting that the country is currently meeting less than 20 percent of potential bunkering demand in the country, Patrick Akorli, Managing Director of the Ghana Oil Company Limited (GOIL), says the company is ready to seize the opportunity to extend its presence and take charge of the local bunker market, African media reports.
"We are just doing a fraction of it now; we are doing less than 20 percent. So why don't you expand so that at least you can do about 60 percent," said Akorli.
"Ideally, it should be 100 percent onshore so that they have a secure environment where there is no piracy and everyone is happy about it."
As Ship & Bunker reported in May, GOIL is funding the construction of a marine gas oil tank terminal at Ghana's Takoradi Port amid hopes that the port will become the new bunkering hub within the West African sub-region.
"As we speak now, we have put up a 5.5 million metric tonnes facility at the Sekondi Naval Base, which is doing bunkering for exploration ships. We are also putting up a 13.5 million facility at the Takoradi harbour. That project will be completed by December 2016 so that we can deliver to more vessels," explained Akorli.
The region's current untapped bunker market holds a large of revenue opportunity for both the company and Ghana as a whole, adds Akorli.
GOIL is noted to hold 51.5 percent of the shares of Ghana Bunkering Services (GBS).
In May, Jacob Kobla Adorkor, director of Tema Port for the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authourity (GPHA), issued a warning that punitive action will be taken against any vessel responsible for polluting the waters.
