The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has assured Ghanaians that there is sufficient Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) in the country to meet national demand, despite recent reports of a potential shortage.
The NPA explained that the Western and parts of the Central Region receive LPG from the Ghana National Gas Processing Plant in Atuabo. However, a recent power challenge affected the processing of natural gas essential for LPG production, causing supply disruptions.
In response, the Authority directed LPG Marketing Companies (LPGMCs) to source LPG from Tema for their retail outlets in these affected regions.
According to the NPA, a check with the Ghana National Gas Company (GNGC) on October 8, 2024, confirmed that the power issue has been resolved, although the Gas Processing Plant has not yet resumed full production. The plant is expected to return to regular output by October 15, 2024.
The NPA further reassured the public that there is ample LPG in the country, stating, “The opening stock of LPG as of October 9, 2024, was enough to last almost two weeks of national consumption.” Additionally, the Sentuo Oil Refinery is producing LPG daily to support the market.
Looking ahead, the NPA announced that over 20,000 metric tonnes of LPG are scheduled for delivery between October 21 and 27, 2024, as part of the LPG Tender program.
The Authority noted that some LPGMCs’ boycott of the Quantum LPG Terminal and Tema Multi-Product Terminal has intensified pressure on the remaining depots in Tema. The refusal of these companies to load from the terminals has restricted the volume of LPG that can be processed daily from these facilities.
To alleviate any concerns, the NPA reassured the public that “there is no threat to the supply of LPG in the country and no imminent shortage of the product.”
The Authority is actively collaborating with relevant stakeholders to ensure that loading to the Western Region is prioritized to address the current challenges in that area.
Meanwhile, the NPA confirmed its commitment to working closely with the Ghana National Gas Company to monitor the resumption of regular production at the Gas Processing Plant and promised to keep the public updated on developments.