In response to concerns raised by the Institute of Energy Security (IES) and the Chamber for Petroleum Consumers (COPEC) regarding the quality of a consignment of petrol sold to certain Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) issued a press release on Thursday, 22nd February 2024.
The NPA refuted allegations by IES and COPEC that it had been lenient with Sentuo Oil Refinery Limited (SORL) to the detriment of consumers and the state. It emphasized its consistent enforcement of industry rules and regulations fairly and equitably.
Contrary to claims that SORL only possessed a construction permit, the NPA clarified that, in addition to the permit, SORL was granted a test-run authorization in October 2023, valid until March 31, 2024. The authorization, based on technical evaluations, allows SORL to introduce products into the market in compliance with national standards.
During the NPA's monitoring on February 16, 2024, it identified that the petrol consignment in question exhibited vapour pressure above the maximum requirement specified in the Ghana Standard for Petrol, GS 140:2022. Consequently, the NPA directed the suspension of consignment sales at the refinery and ordered the evacuation of the product from affected stations.
Addressing claims of damage to vehicles and machinery due to “out-of-specification products,” the NPA clarified that no such damage had occurred, emphasizing that the issue was related to high vapour pressure.
Beyond remedial actions, the NPA imposed sanctions on SORL in response to the quality concerns. The press release emphasized the NPA's commitment to ensuring the integrity and quality of petroleum products available to the public. It assured the public that enforcement actions were impartial and in the interest of consumers. The release was signed by the Corporate Affairs Directorate on Thursday, 22nd February 2024.