Ghana may face fuel shortages very soon as the Tanker Owners Union threatens to freeze the transportation of fuel across the country. According to the Tanker Owners Union, foreign nationals have taken over their business, which is reserved for indigenous Ghanaian companies under local content laws and the deregulation of the petroleum sector.
The Union claims that a Chinese firm, Sentuo, involved in the construction of an Oil Refinery in Tema, has brought in tankers to distribute petroleum products locally, a role traditionally reserved for Ghanaian companies. If their concerns are not addressed, the Union states that they will withdraw their services, which would inevitably lead to fuel shortages in the country.
Kwame Jantuah, a member of the union, expressed their frustration, highlighting that the refinery's use of its own tankers to distribute fuel goes against the practice where companies like Shell and BP rely on Ghanaian-owned tankers for distribution. The union fears for their businesses and the financial implications of this situation, as many have taken loans to acquire the trucks necessary for transporting fuel. Additionally, they mentioned that over 5,000 of their tankers are currently idle due to the lack of fuel to transport.
In response, the union has called on the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) to take swift action to prevent a potential national crisis. It is reported that the NPA is engaging with relevant stakeholders to address the matter.
SOURCE:
- Myjoynews.com - "Fuel shortage looms as oil transporters threaten to halt services"
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