Tema Oil Refinery’s Loading Gantry to be shut down for repairs

GNA – The Loading Gantry of the Tema Oil Refinery,
(TOR) which was damaged in the recent fire outbreak would take several
months to be restored due to the extent of the damage.
The cost of damage to the gantry is estimated at GH¢120,000 whilst
physical damage at the refinery is estimated at 2.5 million dollars.
Two employees lost their lives with many being severely injured in the
January 19 fire. Five load tankers were burnt beyond recognition and two
other tankers were damaged.
Mr Emmanuel Quartey, Chairman of the Committee that investigated the
fire outbreak, made these known when the committee presented a 24-page
report to the Minister of Energy, on Friday.
Other members of the committee were Dr Yaw Akoto of Bulk Oil Storage
(BOST), Deputy Fire Officer J.W. Mensah, Nii Lamptey Blankson of the Bureau
of National Investigations (BNI), Lt. Col. Diamond Akplor (Rtd) and Mrs
Daphne Akonor at the Attorney-General’s Office.
The committee was tasked to investigate the cause of the fire,
ascertain the extent of damage, evaluate the appropriateness of the existing
safety and security measures at TOR, identify any safety and security issues
that in their opinion were relevant to safeguard the facility and prevent
future occurrences.
Mr Quartey, a former General Manager of Health, Safety and Environment,
at TOR, said the committee recommended that TOR improved its management of
safety.
He said TOR also needed better supervision by the regulatory authority
and it should ensure that the system of procedures at the facility were
enforced, monitored and complied with.
When these were implemented, he said, such tragedy would be prevented.
The committee, he said, for now had recommended that the driver and
mate of the loading vehicle at time of the accident be held responsible for
the cause of the tragedy.
He explained that the investigations they conducted revealed that the
driver of the tanker at the gantry who had finished loading premix gasoline
for fishermen was trying to spark his tanker and the ignition caught fire
resulting in the tragedy.
The two duty attendants at the gantry got burnt and died, whilst
several others were severely injured.
Mr Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Boah, Deputy Minister of Energy, who received
the report on behalf of the government, commended the committee for the
enormous job executed at a short notice.
He noted that TOR was a strategic asset that needed to be protected
and said the government would treat the findings and recommendations with
all urgency and implement the recommendations to avert further occurrences.
GNA