LPRC kicks off storage project
The Liberia Petroleum Refining Company or LPRC has commenced phase one of its tank farm and buildings project. Technical Services Manager Mr. Bobby Brown said the project is intended to erect bigger storage tanks that would accommodate more fuels, including operational offices.
Addressing reporters on March 23, 2017 in the LPRC Compound on Bushrod Island, he said management has earmarked a total of seven tanks for construction, but phase is targeting three, including tanks one, two and seven, respectively.
According to him, tank two has a storage capacity of 1,000 metric tons of kerosene and upon completion, will store 25 percent more than previous capacity. He said the circumference of the tank will remain the same but the height will be increased, and the seventh tank, which previously stored 30,500 barrels, will take 25 percent more after completion.
LPRC Managing Director Sumo Kupee, said the project came about as a result of leakage saying, “If a tank used to take 10,000 gallons, we will have to reduce it to 7,000 because the remaining will be wasted, so we have decided to use two private terminals to store our fuel until those tanks are reconstructed, and there will not be shortage on the Liberian market.”
Mr. Kupee said the project cost initially was US$22. 3 million, but due to nine months delay during which US$ 430,000 outside of the amount was used to execute some work on the tanks, so the cost has now dropped to US$21.8 million dollars.
By Ethel A. Tweh-Editing by Jonathan Browne
