Africa-Press – Angola. The national oil company Sonangol acquired 34 liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) reservoirs from the Republic of China, which are being unloaded at the Barra do Dande Ocean Terminal (TOB), in Bengo, as part of the strategy to increase capacity storage of oil products.
This acquisition, which began in October 2022, has a storage capacity of 102,000 cubic meters of LPG (cooking gas) and is part of the completion of the Bande Ocean Terminal project.
According to the director of the Oceanic Terminal project in Bande, Mauro Graça, who was speaking to Rádio Ngol, these are structures measuring 72 meters long, eight meters in diameter and weighing 400 tonnes each.
Each of the “cigars” represents around three thousand cubic meters of LPG storage capacity, that is, the equivalent of a 25-story building, which are already assembled and ready for installation on site.
According to the official, this strategic process by Sonangol will result in an increase in the storage capacity of oil derivatives, optimization of distribution at national level, as well as the creation of a strategic reserve of crude derivatives.
The director considered that the process of unloading the LPG reservoirs, that is “LPG cigars”, is a complex operation, taking into account the risks of moving the same equipment from the Sonils base to Barra do Dande, by sea.
“This is an aspect that has always been a differential in the engineering of this work, due to the benefits it represents for the execution of the project plan, which is quite challenging”, he underlined.
He added that the process is proceeding normally, from loading at the Sonils base to Barra do Dande.
At the end of the operation, Sonangol will have greater LPG storage capacity at national level, which represents benefits for the whole country, both financially, due to the total elimination of floating storage costs, as well as in terms of operational safety, as risks currently associated with handling this so “flammable” product will also be eliminated.
Also according to the person in charge of the project, operational logistics are envisaged in which the reception process for this product will be without limitations, faster, more efficient, which will translate into a better and greater capacity to get the LPG to its final destination , which are the residences.
The Barra do Dande Ocean Terminal (TOBD) is a structural project, owned by Sonangol, which started in December 2021. It is being built by construction company Odebrech Angola.
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