The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has assured the public that measures are being implemented to ensure consistent supply of fuel for all amidst recent fuel shortages.
In a statement, the NPA said that following reports of pockets of petrol shortage in the northern part of the country, the Technical Committee on Energy, set up by the Chief of Staff, has met to discuss modalities to resolve the issue of these fuel shortages.
It added that the logistical challenge identified is being comprehensively resolved using a three-pronged approach.
The first approach is that Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) are being granted a special dispensation to load petrol from the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company (BOST) depot in Kumasi to serve retail outlets in the five regions in the northern part of the country, to alleviate fuel shortages.
Another arrangement is that Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) are being granted a special dispensation to load more petrol from depots in Tema to augment what is being loaded from Kumasi to serve retail outlets in the five regions in the northern part of the country.
Arrangements are also being made in collaboration with BOST to move nine million litres of petrol in the pipeline between the Buipe and Bolgatanga depots into storage in Bolgatanga to immediately serve retail outlets in the five regions in the northern part of the country. These steps are crucial due to current fuel shortages.
The statement said the three-pronged solution was being implemented concurrently to immediately address the issue of fuel shortages.
The NPA has further assured stakeholders in the petroleum supply chain of its commitment to addressing any disruptions swiftly and effectively. Efforts are also underway to ensure the transportation of fuel is not hampered by logistical challenges or delays.
The authority reiterated that the measures being implemented are temporary, with plans to develop a more sustainable fuel distribution framework in the near future. Stakeholders have been urged to collaborate closely to ensure that supply chains remain uninterrupted and responsive to demand fluctuations.
“Consequently, we wish to encourage the consuming public to go about their normal business and avoid panic buying,” it added.
