The Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company Limited (BOST) has begun an expansion programme on its oil storage facilities throughout the country to commence a comprehensive commercialization programme.

The systems when fully upgraded is expected to make the Saharan countries the number one target markets and serve as the main supply point for bulk oil purchase by oil companies operating in the Brong Ahafo, Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions.

This came to light when a team of officials from the company’s Head Office led by Mr Salifu Nat Acheampong, Corporate Communications Manager of the Company took journalists round one of the depot in Bolgatanga where operations have stalled for about five years.

According to Mr Acheampong, the new BOST is expected to be the leading logistics company in Ghana and would this time be more efficient, be able to adequately manage losses, reduce man contact and establish larger automation systems to improve the overall performance of the company.

He said the new BOST when fully in operation by the close of the year, would create job avenues for the people in the Upper East Region because it is expected that more of the oil companies both local and foreign would establish their offices within these Depot jurisdictions and employ more of the people.

He praised the new Management Board of the company for their outstanding determination to get things working for the growth of the company and said government which is the sole shareholder is prepared to support the management team to bring the necessary growth through the expansion programme.

The Corporate Communications Manager reiterated the advantages in upgrading the system and said it would reduce transportation cost of carting oil products from the various depots dotted in the country, especially those cited in northern Ghana and improve trade among oil companies both local and international. It would also build a better business environment between Ghana and other neighbouring countries.

Mr Acheampong indicated that as part of its urge to be a leading logistics company in Ghana in the next two years, his outfit has coded the upgrading programme ‘operation 24’, which would guide the company’s management to pursue its vision in the next 24 months.

The Bolgatanga Depot Manager, Reverend Eddison Coffie, indicated that the Depot could store up to 46,500,000 liters of gasoline and diesel, adding that, the facility has two storage tanks for the former and five for the latter.

He said the expansion work would replace pumps with higher capacities to facilitate pumping of oil products faster, adding that, the expansion programme would increase supply from about 60 tankers to about 200 tankers daily.