The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) is advocating for the adoption of the Cylinder Recirculation Model (CRM) for users of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) in the Upper East Region.
This government initiative aims to provide enhanced and cost-effective services to consumers.
Under the CRM, LPG cylinders will be filled and stored at exchange points conveniently located near users.
Customers will only need to pay for the gas content and exchange their empty cylinders or register to receive filled cylinders if they don’t own one.
The NPA highlights several benefits of the CRM, including mitigating risks associated with LPG operations, increasing accessibility by bringing services closer to users, improving efficiency in the LPG value chain, and generating more opportunities for individuals.
Bashiru Natogma, the Upper East Regional Manager of NPA, emphasized the importance of this new model during a sensitization session held in Bolgatanga.
He explained that exchange points designated by the authority will facilitate the exchange of empty cylinders for filled ones across all communities.
“This is not going to be limited to some particular areas, but it would be opened up everywhere in our communities, so those days that one would have to travel a long distance with the cylinder to be filled would no longer be the case because we are going to ensure that all the communities in this region have the exchange points,” he stated.
Obed Kraine Boachie, Head of Gas overseeing Commercial Regulation at the NPA, emphasized that the new model has promptly addressed barriers to LPG usage. This is because individuals are no longer required to own a cylinder to access LPG.
“Under the CRM, we are saying that a bottling plant would buy the cylinders, unlike now, when you would have to buy the cylinder, the bottling plant would procure the cylinders, so for you as a consumer, when you go and register, you will get a cylinder without having to buy one before you can use LPG,” he stated.
He also mentioned that discussions were underway between the Authority and the government to explore the possibility of reducing taxes on LPG to enhance affordability.
Sarah Yakubu, an Assistant Programmes Officer from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the Upper East Region, acknowledged that promoting the use of LPG aligns with environmental conservation efforts, as it can contribute to a reduction in deforestation.
She encouraged the public to embrace the policy.
Bright Akobanyam, the Upper East Regional Safety Officer at the Ghana National Fire Service, urged the public to exercise caution when dealing with fire to prevent its detrimental impact on lives and property.