Crude Storage Terminal Nearing Completion
![](pg_img/CONex1.jpg)
HFO Importation Resumes in August 2015
Conex- Liberia has assured the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC) that importation of Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) in Liberia will resume in August 2015. The assurance was made by Mr. Sheriff Abdallah, Executive Chairman of Conex Petroleum on Wednesday, May 27 when a delegation from LPRC paid a visitation to the Crude Storage Terminal Rehabilitation Project site at the Free Port of Monrovia. Mr. Sheriff informed the LPRC delegation that phase one of the construction works will be completed in August to pave the way for the importation of HFO in the country.
Mr. Sheriff Abdallah said that phase two of the construction work will be completed in December 2015. "This terminal is constructed to the standard and specification of the American Petroleum Institute and when finished will be a state- of- the Art; fully automated" Mr. Abdallah Remarked.
Earlier, Mr. Mousa Gaudel, Consultant for the rehabilitation project led the LPRC delegation on a guided tour of the facility. Areas visited during the tour were: a completed Power Generation House and Administrative Building, a partially completed fire water tank, equipped with a sprinkler system, a pump house, a control room and loading racks.
Mousa Gaudel: “When completed, this terminal will be equipped with a two weigh bridges, two loading racks and a control room. Additionally our storage will include six tanks; two each for HFO, diesel fuel (AGO) and gasoline (PMS) along with fire water tanks equipped with a sprinkler system and will create an employment opportunity for over 100 Liberians".
The Project Head for Lutect Construction, Mr. M. P. Sharma said despite the rain and the recent Ebola crisis, his company is on track with the timeline to complete the first phase of the CST rehabilitation project in August 2015.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of the Liberia Petroleum Company, Prof. Sumo G. Kupee expressed appreciation for the level of work done on the rehabilitation of the Crude Storage facility. He said as the regulatory body of the downstream petroleum sector, LPRC will ensure that Conex investment is protected.
The LPRC delegation to the CST on Bushrod Island included Managing Director, Prof. Sumo G. Kupee; Operations Manager, Bobby G. Brown; Procurement Manager, Price Kieh and Assistant Technical Services Manager, Mark Bropleh. Others were: Assistant Security Manager; Emmanuel Johnson and Assistant Public Relations Manager William K. Morris.
HFO importation was stopped due to the civil crisis when the storage and piping infrastructures were either damaged or looted. According to sources in the energy sector, the resumption of HFO importation will significantly reduce the operational cost of mining companies and cut down bill for electricity in the Liberia.
It can be recalled that in November 13, 2013, LPRC and Conex Petroleum, held a one day stakeholders conference at the Mamba Point Hotel where several personalities, including those in national government, petroleum importers, mining sector, etc. had the opportunity to have an idea of plans for the supply of HFO in the country in 2015 through the Crude Storage Terminal on Bushrod Island.