The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) of Ghana, under the leadership of Acting Chief Executive Mr. Godwin Kudzo Tameklo Esq., has initiated a comprehensive assessment tour of key fuel installations across the country. This initiative aims to provide Mr. Tameklo and his team, which includes Deputy Chief Executive Dr. Sheila Addo and other management staff, with direct insights into the operational landscape of the petroleum sector. The tour focuses on understanding current operations, evaluating future prospects, identifying existing challenges, and ultimately determining how the NPA can provide effective regulatory support and guidance to enhance the sector’s performance. This proactive approach underscores the NPA’s commitment to fostering a robust and efficient petroleum industry in Ghana.
The initial phase of the tour focused on the Tema enclave, a critical hub for petroleum operations in Ghana. The team’s first visit was to the Ghana Petroleum Mooring Systems Limited (GPMS), where they were given a detailed overview of the offshore mooring and discharge processes for fuel vessels. This involved witnessing firsthand how tankers are securely moored and how fuel is transferred via pipelines to onshore terminals. Subsequently, the delegation visited the Ghana Bunkering Services Limited, gaining insights into the intricate process of discharging fuel into tankers designated for distribution to various oil marketing companies across the country. This segment of the tour provided a comprehensive understanding of the crucial initial stages of the fuel supply chain.
Continuing their assessment, the NPA team visited two key refining facilities: the Sentuo Oil Refinery Company Limited and the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR). These visits highlighted the importance of domestic refining capacity in ensuring fuel security and economic stability. At TOR, Mr. Tameklo emphasized the critical need for the refinery to resume its core function of processing crude oil for the local market. He underscored the potential of a revitalized TOR to reduce reliance on imported refined products, thereby alleviating pressure on the Ghanaian cedi and strengthening the national economy.
Mr. Tameklo’s engagement at TOR extended to discussions with the Acting Managing Director, Dr. Yusif Sulemana, who affirmed the management’s commitment to restoring TOR to its full operational capacity. This commitment aligns with the NPA’s overarching goal of bolstering domestic refining capabilities and reducing dependence on foreign refined products. The discussions highlighted the collaborative spirit between the NPA and key players in the petroleum sector, aiming to achieve shared objectives for national development.
The visit to Sentuo Oil Refinery offered another perspective on the future of domestic refining in Ghana. Mr. Tameklo reiterated the NPA’s unwavering support for Sentuo’s expansion plans, specifically the second phase of their project which aims to increase refinery capacity from 40,000 barrels per day to an impressive 100,000 barrels per day. This significant increase in production capacity promises to further enhance Ghana’s fuel self-sufficiency and strengthen its position in the regional petroleum market.
Beyond infrastructure development, Mr. Tameklo emphasized the importance of human capital development within the petroleum sector. He encouraged Sentuo’s management to prioritize the recruitment and training of Ghanaian professionals, particularly petrochemical engineering students and graduates from other relevant technical disciplines. This focus on local talent development, he argued, would facilitate technology transfer, build local expertise, and offer a more cost-effective alternative to relying on expatriate labor. He also welcomed Sentuo’s proposal to implement night-time fuel loading operations, aligning with the government’s 24-hour economy initiative. This operational shift, subject to technical review and approval by the NPA, promises to enhance efficiency and contribute to the overall dynamism of the petroleum sector.
The NPA’s comprehensive tour of these critical fuel installations serves as a practical demonstration of its proactive approach to regulation and its commitment to fostering a robust and efficient petroleum sector in Ghana. By engaging directly with operators, understanding their challenges, and exploring opportunities for improvement, the NPA is working to ensure the sector’s sustainable growth and contribution to the nation’s overall development. The focus on domestic refining capacity, human capital development, and operational efficiency reflects the NPA’s forward-thinking approach to regulation, ensuring the sector’s long-term viability and its alignment with national economic goals. This proactive engagement also underscores the NPA’s commitment to transparency and collaboration within the sector, fostering a shared vision for growth and development. The insights gained from this tour will undoubtedly inform the NPA’s future regulatory strategies and contribute to the creation of a more robust and resilient petroleum industry in Ghana.
