Ghana’s leading Indigenous Oil Marketing Company, GOIL PLC, in partnership with Société Multinationale de Bitumes (SMB) of Côte d’Ivoire, has inaugurated a $40 million African Bitumen Terminal and production plant in the Tema industrial enclave of the Greater Accra Region.

The state-of-the-art facility, with a capacity of 7,500 metric tonnes (MT), is set to transform the bitumen supply landscape in Ghana and across West Africa.

The terminal’s primary operations include the transfer of bitumen from tanker vessels at the oil jetty to the terminal, storage of bitumen grades AC 10 and AC 20, production of Polymer Modified Bitumen (PMB), bitumen emulsions, and comprehensive laboratory testing to ensure product quality.

The facility also facilitates the distribution of bitumen products through bulk trucks, bitutainers, and drums.

The terminal comprises two bitumen storage tanks with capacities of 4,000 MT (AC 20) and 2,000 MT (AC 10), a 450 MT blend stock tank, two 15 MT mixing tanks for PMB, three 133 MT letdown tanks, and two 133 MT emulsion storage tanks.

Available products include raw bitumen (AC 10 and AC 20), PMB, and bitumen emulsions.

At the inauguration ceremony on September 12, 2024, President Nana Akufo-Addo hailed the project as a significant milestone in regional cooperation.

“The $40 million project stands as evidence of what can be achieved when we pool our resources, expertise, and resolve as nations within the ECOWAS community,” he stated.

President Akufo-Addo emphasized that the facility positions Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire as key exporters of bitumen to West Africa and beyond.

“This plant has come at the right time. My government is undertaking the most extensive expansion of the road network in our country’s history, with over 12,000 kilometers of new roads since 2017.

The Goil-SMB Bitumen plant will complement these efforts,” he added.

He also underscored the plant's broader economic implications, including foreign exchange earnings, job creation, and enhanced technological expertise.

“This facility must operate at the highest standards to produce bituminous products that meet international specifications,” he noted.

Representing Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara, H.E. Robert Beugré Mambé, Prime Minister of Côte d'Ivoire, highlighted the project as a new chapter in Ghana-Côte d’Ivoire relations.

He expressed confidence in the facility's success, reflecting President Ouattara’s delight over its materialization.

The Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of GOIL PLC, Mr. Kwame Osei-Prempeh, emphasized that the plant will make bitumen readily available to support Ghana’s massive road construction agenda.

He called on the government to curb the importation of bitumen through unauthorized channels to protect local production.

Mr. Herbert Krapa, Minister of State at the Energy Ministry, lauded the plant's potential to impact Ghana’s economy positively.

He urged the facility’s managers to prioritize zero carbon emissions across its operations.

“Being responsible in our carbon emissions is no longer optional.

This plant must be a model for others to follow, contributing directly to our net-zero goals,” he remarked.

He encouraged the use of renewable energy sources, compressed natural gas for transport, and the development of carbon sinks to mitigate emissions.