Members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Mines and Energy have lauded the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) for effective regulation of the petroleum downstream industry in the country.

As part of their oversight mandate, the Committee visited the Head Office of the NPA on Monday, 18 November 2023, to engage management on a range of issues, particularly regarding the Cylinder Recirculation Model (CRM) and technologies used in the distribution of petroleum products.

In his welcome remarks, NPA Chief Executive Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid expressed joy that the MPs had found time to come and see how the Authority works to ensure the effective operation of the petroleum downstream industry.

He welcomed the Committee’s interest in visiting some industry installations and indicated that it would provide insight into the operations of the industry and guide their decision-making as overseers to in turn give the NPA guidance to have a more efficient downstream.

Responding, Mr Atta Akyea said the visit to the NPA was in line with the oversight responsibility of Parliament.

He said although the debate on the 2024 budget was ongoing in Parliament, members of the committee had found time to visit the NPA because of the importance they attach to the work of the Authority.

Dr Abdul-Hamid and his deputies, Mr Perry Okudzeto and Mrs Linda Asante, and the various Directors and Heads of Department, held a meeting with the Committee during which some presentations were made followed by a discussion of pertinent concerns.

The MPs were also taken through the operations in the National ECTS Command Centre., which houses the BRVTS and the National Retail Outlet Automation Architecture.

Members of the Committee were particularly thrilled with the use of modern technological tools, such as the Bulk Road Vehicle Tracking System (BRVTS), the national fuel marking system, and the Enterprise Relational Database Management System (ERDMS) to curb third-party transactions, diversions, tampering and improve revenue generation.

The Committee also expressed satisfaction with the measures and strategies put in place to ensure the smooth implementation of the CRM.

The second part of the programme was a visit to some LPG Storage and Bottling Plant Facilities in Tema.

The NPA team led by the CE and the MPs visited the Quantum Terminals Group’s LPG Storage Facility and the New Gas Bottling Company Plant in Tema.

The Committee was informed that the $16 million Bottling Plant currently has two units; one with the capacity to fill 1,800 pieces of 6kg and 12.5kg cylinders per hour, while the other unit can fill up to 1,400 pieces of 3kg cylinders per hour respectively. The company informed the Committee of its readiness to serve Ghanaians with LPG at their doorstep.

Members of the Committee were quite impressed with the facilities and assured their support for such investments to improve Ghana’s petroleum downstream sector.