State-owned National Gas Company (NGC) is leveraging Trinidad and Tobago’s strengths in the natural gas sector to support Ghana’s natural gas pipeline distribution infrastructure, as part of the company’s efforts to diversify and internationalise their operations. And they are working with local private-sector companies to execute this work and diversify exports.
In December 2020, NGC signed a contract with Ghana based Integrated Logistics Bureau Limited to construct a new pressure regulator skid. This will be installed in Takoradi, Ghana, to enhance the reliability of the installed gas pipeline distribution infrastructure.
COVID-related travel restrictions meant that the NGC team had to adopt new innovative approaches to executing the project. Detailed engineering design was completed in Trinidad in December 2021, utilizing 3-D modelling and virtual technology to engage with the Ghana based teams in the field. The final design of the skid was a “U-Shape” which enabled it to be split into two separate skid mounted units for fabrication, assembly, and installation, as well as allowing it to fit safely into the existing site at Takoradi.
A Trinidadian private company, Trinweld Contracting Services Limited (Trinweld) was contracted to fabricate the skid at their facility in south Trinidad. Trinweld began the fabrication of the two skid mounted runs, interconnected pipe spools and spreader bar at the end of 2021 and completed the project safely in five weeks.
Managing Director of Trinweld, David Lyons, reported that “Trinweld is proud and pleased to be a part of this great initiative between the two countries, as we continue to support the NGC in its goals and vision”.
These units have now been packaged into containers and shipped from Trinidad to arrive in Ghana on 24th March 2022. All material procurement for the project and shipping was overseen by the NGC Supply Chain Management team using Trinidadian expeditors and freight forwarders.
CEO the Energy Chamber, Dax Driver, complimented the NGC and Trinweld teams on the execution of this project, explaining that “for many years the Energy Chamber has been promoting the export of energy services as an important part of the country’s diversification efforts. I am especially pleased that this project is being executed in Takoradi, a city with which we have had an on-going strong and fruitful relationship, especially with the Sekondi-Takoradi Chamber of Industry and Commerce. I have led delegations to Sekondi-Takoradi numerous times and welcomed delegations from their private sector here in Trinidad. This is a great initiative and I hope many similar projects will follow.”
3D model of the skids