The Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company Limited (BOST) has denied accusations of importing fuel with elevated manganese levels as part of the government’s Gold-for-Oil initiative.
In response to growing concerns about the potential adverse effects on vehicle performance, BOST issued a comprehensive statement on Monday, November 27, unequivocally dismissing assertions that the Gold-for-Oil policy is the cause of the heightened manganese content in the country’s fuel.
The statement emphasized BOST’s unwavering commitment to adhering to the stringent regulations set by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) and the product specifications outlined by the Ghana Standards Authority.
“We wish to state unequivocally that we have not imported any product under the policy which is off the specifications per the regulations of the National Petroleum Authority and the product specifications of the Ghana Standards Authority.”
“We, therefore, implore the public to disregard the claims of our detractors regarding the importation of manganese-laden fuel,” parts of the statement read.
According to BOST, all 23 cargoes imported under the Gold-for-Oil policy have successfully passed rigorous quality tests, conducted by the Ghana Standards Authority.
In urging the public to disregard claims made by detractors, BOST emphasized its dedication to maintaining the highest standards in fuel quality.
The company highlighted its compliance with the regulatory framework and urged the public to have confidence in the thoroughness of the regulatory authorities overseeing the petroleum downstream sector.
Furthermore, BOST called for a comprehensive investigation by the regulatory authorities to ascertain the exact source of any alleged manganese-laden fuel.
The company asserted that such an investigation would contribute to tightening the regulatory regime, preventing the importation of potentially problematic products into the market.
“Grant the regulatory authority of the petroleum downstream the time and space to investigate the exact source of the said product and also to tighten the regime to clamp out the room for the importation of potentially problematic products onto the market,” the BOST statement added.