NPA outlines programme to pilot cylinder recirculation in 2 districts

The Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Mr Alhassan Tampuli has hinted that the piloting of the National Liquefied Petroleum Policy through the Cylinder Recirculation Model (CRM) of LPG distribution will begin by next month in two districts in the Eastern Region.

According to him, the piloting would begin in the Denkyembour and Kwaebibirem Districts of the region, before it would be rolled out in the entire country.

He said the new gas policy or the CRM which would be piloted in phases would ensure greater safety in product delivery to consumers.

Mr Tampuli gave the hint at a stakeholder and consultative meeting where traditional rulers, market women, personnel from the security agencies and several others from various institutions were invited to share views and ideas on the policy.

The meeting was intended to solicit their views and brainstorm for inputs that would help to enrich and sustain the policy.

It was also intended to solicit public support and educate them on safety measures and on how the circulation and distribution processes would be done.

Mr Tampuli debunked speculations that the National LPG Policy would bring about job losses and threw a challenge to anyone who had counter views to approach his outfit for a debate or discussion.

He stated that rather, the new LPG policy would create about 4,500 new jobs for the unemployed.

Mr Tampuli however called on the public to rally their support for the policy to avoid certain unfortunate incidents such as the gas explosion that occurred at Mansco Refilling Plant at Atomic Junction in 2017.

The CEO of the NPA noted that “the objective of the policy is to ensure that at least 50 per cent of Ghanaians have access to safe and environmentally-friendly LPG for domestic, commercial and industrial usage by 2030,” adding that his outfit would continue to engage the public and all stakeholders on the policy to get new ideas to sustain the policy.

For his part, the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Eric Kwakue Darfour commended the NPA for initiating the series of engagements with the sole purpose of educating the general public on the CRM.

He pledged his commitment to support the policy and hoped that through the engagements, investments and financing opportunities along the CRM value chain would be identified for job creation and other economic ventures.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Oil Marketing Companies, Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Duah pleaded with the NPA to remove the many taxes on the LPG to make it cheaper for all to purchase adding it would also enable the NPA to get the 50 per cent of Ghanaians to patronise LPG.

He also tasked them to engage drivers on the use of auto gas revealing that most of them who were using gas cylinders in their vehicles mostly do not handle them well.

“The NPA should educate them to avoid the unfortunate from happening,” he said pledging his full support for the policy.

Pic caption:  NPA boss, Alhassan Tampuli(middle in blue) in a group photo with traditional rulers in Eastern Region and other stakeholders in the petroleum industry and security services.

FROM AMA TEKYIWAA AMPADU AGYEMAN, KOFORIDUA