Reuter cited Mr George Sipa-Adzah Yankey head of the Ghana National Gas Company said Ghana will borrow USD 800 million from the state owned China Development Bank to develop its natural gas infrastructure and the first gas could be expected by the end of 2012 or early 2013.

Mr George Sipa-Adzah Yankey who did not give any details on the loan also said on Thursday that Ghana's gas production is expected to stabilise at around 120 million cubic feet per day.

He said that "The China Development Bank have agreed to finance the project and plans have reached advanced stage, adding that the project would take 18 to 20 months to complete.

Mr Yankey said the contract to build the infrastructure has been awarded to Houston based INTECSEA which is part of the WorleyParsons Group. He said that "We are expecting the infrastructure to be fully installed and first gas commissioned by end of 2012 or latest early 2013."

He added that most of the gas will fuel Ghana gas fired power plant at Aboadze but Ghana aims to export gas in the future.

The deal which has been signed off by the cabinet but needs parliamentary approval comes after the West African state joined Africa club of oil producing nations in December last year when its Jubilee field came on line.

A gas pipeline will link the offshore production site to a new processing plant in the Western regional of Bonwire as part of efforts to boost the country energy supplies.

(Sourced from Reuter)