The Institute for Energy Security (IES) and the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC) have raised questions about the National Petroleum Authority’s (NPA) decision to impose additional sanctions on Chinese-owned Sentuo Oil Refinery, given concerns about the quality of its products.
In a joint release seen by GhanaWeb Business, the two organizations called on the NPA to disclose the full extent of the sanctions imposed on Sentuo Oil Refinery Limited (SORL) following the release of allegedly substandard products onto the Ghanaian market.
“One wonders, if indeed the Sentuo refinery products on the market are not a source of worry why the additional sanctions by the NPA?” the statement from IES and COPEC queried. They urged the NPA to provide transparency by making public the complete list of sanctions imposed on SORL since the release of the controversial products.
Moreover, the organizations emphasized the need for appropriate compensations to be made to affected stakeholders, including the Association of Oil Marketing Companies and consumers who experienced issues with their engines due to the alleged substandard fuel.
“The NPA must be made aware of the fact that any such sanctions on the Chinese refinery must factor due and appropriate compensations to both the Association Of Oil Marketing Companies and its members affected by the bad fuel and its attendant challenges on their facilities as well as the consumers who patronised these products and are currently grappling with one issue or the other on their engines,” the release stated.
This latest development follows earlier concerns raised by IES and COPEC regarding Sentuo Oil Refinery’s operations and the quality of its fuel products. The organizations accused the refinery of supplying substandard fuel and operating without the appropriate permits from the NPA.
In response, the NPA refuted these claims, asserting that it has enforced industry regulations fairly and equitably, and has not shown favoritism towards Sentuo Oil Refinery. However, IES and COPEC remain steadfast in their demand for transparency and accountability regarding the enforcement of sanctions against SORL.