ACCRA, April 3 -- A Chinese bank-funded gas processing plant built for Ghana at Atuabo, some 218 km west of the capital Accra, saw its first full gas production on Wednesday, local media has reported.

This follows the success of the phased commissioning process that began in September under the supervision of the country's energy commission.

The facility, which was built by China's SINOPEC Petroleum, consists of an offshore pipeline, the Atuabo Gas Processing Plant and an onshore pipeline.

"It's important to note that commissioning completion does not necessarily imply that the Atuabo Gas Processing Plant will be operating at maximum capacity," Alfred Ogbaamey-Tetteh, public affairs manager for Ghana Gas, told local media.

He said the maximum production of the various gas products in the plant could only be achieved if the downstream off-takers or power-generating companies are ready to utilize entire volumes produced.

From last Monday, the plant with a capacity to produce 150 million standard cubic feet of gas per day (150 mscfogpd), has started supplying about 80 mscfogpd to the Aboadze Thermal Plant.

The plant also supplies 300 tonnes of Liquefied Petroleum Gas daily out of its projected maximum capacity of 500 tonnes onto the domestic market, while 30 tonnes of condensates are produced daily for power generation in the eastern power enclave in Tema, some 38 km east of Accra.