Ouagadougou , (AIB) – The government of Burkina Faso announced the relaunch of an oil pipeline project with Ghana, dating from 1997 and whose construction is currently estimated at 98 billion FCFA, this Friday before deputies in Ouagadougou.
“A memorandum was signed with Ghana for the construction of a multi-product pipeline to supply Burkina Faso with hydrocarbons,” indicated Prime Minister Apollinaire Joachimson de Tambela, in his speech on the situation of the Nation.
In terms of energy, the head of government also recalled the negotiations which have begun with Russia, for the installation of a nuclear power plant and with Iran, for the construction of an oil refinery.
“It is no secret that Burkina Faso is behind in the production of electrical energy,” he told parliamentarians.
The oil pipeline project linking Ghana to Burkina Faso dates from 1997 and should be installed, in its first phase, between the Ghanaian town of Bolgatanga and the Burkinabe town of Pô, covering a distance of 85 km.
With an estimated construction cost of 98 billion FCFA, it includes the construction of a storage depot of approximately 60,000 m³ in Pô.
Burkina Faso expects a saving of 10 billion FCFA on average, an offer of 100 jobs to young people and a reduction in its dependence on ports in coastal countries.
It also hopes to reduce the costs and time taken to transport its hydrocarbons as well as the dangers of transportation.
“This project is part of the line of promoting energy efficiency through reducing the environmental impact and securing the road transport of petroleum products,” declared in September 2023, a senior official from the ministry in charge of Energy.
Forgotten from its birth, the project found new interest under the Transition led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré, driven by a desire to build Burkina Faso on new foundations.
On August 17, 2023 in Accra, the Burkinabè Minister of Energy, Mines and Quarries, Simon-Pierre Boussim signed with his Ghanaian counterpart of Energy, Matthew Opuku Prempeh, the memorandum of understanding for the realization of this pipeline.
Source: Burkina Information Agency