Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), has called on LPG marketing companies to reconsider their opposition to the Cylinder Recirculation Model (CRM) and to support the policy's implementation.

Speaking at the 2024 Ghana International Petroleum Conference (GhIPCon) in Accra, Dr. Abdul-Hamid highlighted that CRM is already in place in several West African countries, including Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, Burkina Faso, and Senegal. 

He emphasized that Ghana cannot afford to lag behind these nations.

He addressed the aggressive advertisements by LPG marketing companies (LPGMCs) promoting the current LPG filling station model, noting that while it is within their rights to run these ads, they should embrace CRM for improved safety and convenience in LPG distribution and use.

"I urge you to reassess your opposition to the CRM policy because, worldwide, very few countries still use the filling station concept for LPG distribution. 

All across the West African subregion—Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Togo—everywhere else, people are running the CRM model.

 Ghana cannot afford to continue lagging behind. 

It is important to catch up with modern trends and adapt," he stressed.

Dr. Abdul-Hamid noted that CRM could generate more jobs along its value chain, including operations of LPG bottling plants, depots, exchange points, and the transportation of filled cylinders.

The two-day conference, organized by the NPA in collaboration with the Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors (CBOD), the Association of Oil Marketing Companies (AOMC), and the Ministry of Energy, was themed: "The Petroleum Downstream: Building a Future for Growth, Efficiency, and Sustainability."

This year's GhIPCon, the sixth in the series, aims to address critical issues and explore opportunities within the petroleum downstream sector. 

Dr. Abdul-Hamid noted the sector's evolution into a vibrant industry with increased private sector participation, contributing significantly to the economy with an estimated value of over GHS71 billion, representing about 8.4% of Ghana's 2023 GDP.

He mentioned that Ghana’s petroleum downstream industry has been supplying neighbouring countries such as Mali, Niger, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, and Burkina Faso, with a total re-export and transit volume of 385,154,100 liters in 2023. 

This increase in exports signifies the NPA's success in curbing illicit fuel activities through intensified collaborations with the navy, marine police, and immigration authorities.

Dr. Abdul-Hamid also announced that Senegal and Gambia have begun importing petroleum products from Ghana.

Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, in a speech delivered on his behalf by the Minister of State at the Ministry of Energy, Mr. Herbert Krapa, highlighted Ghana's progress towards an efficient and sustainable energy industry since the last GhIPCon in 2022. 

He mentioned the implementation of the Gold for Oil Programme, which has reduced the demand on forex reserves for petroleum imports, increased local product supply volumes, and reduced premiums, resulting in lower petroleum product prices.

CEOs of the Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors, Dr. Patrick Ofori, and the Association of Oil Marketing Companies, Dr. Riverson Oppong, affirmed their commitment to collaborating with the NPA to promote the growth and sustainability of the petroleum downstream industry