No need for fear and panic, we have enough LPG – NPA assures

The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has stated that there is enough Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) in the country. 

According to the authority, it does not anticipate any shortage, hence no need for fear and panic.

“There is adequate LPG in the country to meet national demand. The opening stock of LPG as of 9th October 2024 was enough to last almost two weeks of national consumption. In addition to this, the Sentuo Oil Refinery is also producing LPG, which serves the market daily” a statement released by the NPA said.

It added that more than 20,000 metric tonnes of LPG is scheduled to be delivered between 21st and 27th October 2024 under LPG Tender programme.

Giving some reasons for recent shortage in supply, the NPA said the Western and parts of the Central Region which are supplied with LPG from the Ghana National Gas Processing Plant in Atuabo encountered some challenges.

It explained that a recent power challenge that affected the processing of natural gas from which LPG is derived affected the supply of LPG from the plant.

Due to the situation, the NPA said it directed LPG Marketing Companies (LPGMCs) to load LPG from Tema to serve their retail outlets in those parts of the country.

“Checks with the Ghana National Gas Company (GNGC) on 8th October 2024 indicated that the power challenge has been resolved. However, the Gas Processing Plant is yet to return to full production. The plant is expected to return to regular production from 15th October 2024 onwards”, the statement assured.

According to the NPA, the boycott of the Quantum LPG Terminal and Tema Multi-Product Terminal by some Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketing Companies (LPGMCs) has put pressure on the remaining depots in Tema.

It regretted that the refusal of the LPGMCs to load from these depots limits the volume of LPG that can be loaded from the Tema depots in a day.

“The Authority wishes to reassure the public that there is no threat to the supply of LPG in the country and no imminent shortage of the product. The Authority is working closely with all parties to ensure that loading to the Western Region is prioritised to address the challenge in that area”.