The Volta River Authority (VRA) on Tuesday urged fishermen to stay clear from the authority's Single Point Mooring (SPM) facility which is used to pump light crude oil from oil tankers at sea to the Takoradi Thermal Plant.
Mr. Jacob Yawson, the acting Operations Manager of the Takoradi Thermal Plant, made the call at a consultative meeting with stakeholders and fishermen organized by the VRA at Aboadze near Takoradi.
The meeting was to educate stakeholders and fishermen on the dangers of fishing around the SPM and the effect of other human activities on the operations of the Takoradi Thermal Plant.
Mr. Yawson said the SPM is highly inflammable because it contains light crude oil adding: "The thermal power station combustion turbine generators are fired using light crude oil which is supplied through the SPM facility
about four point 5 kilometres from shore".
He said reports indicate that some local fishermen get on board the SPM and cook when fishing at night while others get their nets into the SPM security zone.
Mr. Yawson said should SPM burst into flames, it would go down the underground marine pipelines and eventually affect the Takoradi Thermal Plant itself.
He said the Maritime Security Amendment Bill which is yet to be approved by Parliament would prohibit fishing near SPM and other facilities
of the VRA and Tullow.
Mr. Yawson expressed concern about sand winning activities at the beach near the Takoradi Thermal Plant.
He said there was massive erosion at the beach as a result of this and if not checked, underground gas and light crude oil pipelines would be exposed.
Mr. Yawson appealed to traditional rulers and the public to help put a stop to sand winning at the beach before it becomes an environmental
problem.
Mr. John Chobbah, Public Relations Officer of the Takoradi Thermal Plant, said the VRA was committed to ensuring maximum safety in its
operations and strictly observed preventive measures against fire and pollution.
He said the SPM and the underground pipelines are maintained by Smit Terminals Europe Limited, on contract.
Mr. Chobbah said the VRA with the assistance of the Ghana Navy is trying to bring the activities of fishermen around the SPM under control.
He said during off-loading of light crude oil at the SPM, the Navy patrols the area 24 hours.
Mr. Chobbah said the VRA has been interacting with fishing communities on the issue.
Later, participants at the meeting visited the beach to ascertain the environmental degradation caused by sand winning.