This is coming after the LPG Marketers Association clashed with the National Petroleum Authority over its decision to delay return to Atuabo to lift gas.

Vice Chairman of the LPG Marketers Association, Gabriel Kumi, who is unhappy with the NPA argued that the association did not mention that it will not return to Atuabo to lift gas.

According to him, its members are currently lifting gas from Tema due to the maintenance work at Atuabo and should return to Atuabo next week.

“No where in our letter did we mention Atuabo; so we are surprised that he [Obed Boachie, Head of Regulation at NPA] is trying to press the panic button by suggesting that we have decided not to go to Atuabo. In any case, you NPA wrote to us that, Atuabo is undergoing some maintenance and that we should revert back to Atuabo.”

“Currently we are loading from Tema, we should go back to Atuabo on the 26th of this month. Today is 21^st, I think you have not written back to tell us that Atuabo is ready so we should move there. We are sticking to the 26th of this month deadline to return to Atuabo”, he mentioned.

Mr. Kumi added that “We haven’t said anywhere that we are very much aware of the National Security implications of not lifting LPG from Atuabo. And we are very responsible association and we don’t want to put this nation under any national security threat. So, you [NPA] should stop this propaganda and concentrate on doing proper regulatory works.

He also expressed concern about the monopoly being enjoyed Sage Petroleum at Atuabo, saying, “I think is about time we even look at the monopoly being enjoyed by Sage petroleum at Atuabo”.

Source: Joy Business

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Vice Chairman, Gabriel Kumi insists the directive to its members was to cease doing business with the two firms at the Tema depots and not Atuabo.

SAGE Petroleum and Blue Ocean who were previously supplying LPG to local marketing companies obtained permits from the regulator, National Petroleum Authority to operate bottling plants under the Cylinder Recirculation Model and begin filling cylinders.

However, the LPGMCs consider this inimical to the survival of indigenous business, thus started a boycott of the two firms on the 12^th of August 2024.

This has not gone down well with the National Petroleum Authority.

“You cannot block a service provider’s infrastructure, not to permit other people to go there to gain products,” Head of Gas Regulation at the NPA, Obed Kraine Boachie said in an interview.

“Atuabo is a strategic facility that allows us to evacuate LPG so the Gas Processing Plant can run. Once you stop the evacuation over there you create a national security issue”, he added.

But speaking on the Marketplace on JoyNews, Mr. Kumi accused the NPA of trying to press the panic button.

“The Atuabo Gas Processing Plant was shut down for maintenance work and LPGMCs are not allowed to load products from there until 26^th of August. We instructed our members not to load from the Tema Terminal”, Kumi explained.

“We are aware of the national security implications of not lifting gas from Atuabo. We are a responsible association and will not compromise national security”, he assured.

Mr. Kumi demanded fair regulation of the LPG market and kicked against what he describes as attempts to monopolise the industry.

The LPGMCs’ decision to boycott SAGE Petroleum and Blue Ocean is part of a broader initiative aimed at “protecting indigenous businesses, safeguarding over 10,000 Ghanaian jobs, and defending local investments exceeding $400 million made by Ghanaians over the past 30 years”.

Source: Joy Business

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