The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has announced that Ghana will receive over 20,000 metric tonnes of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) between October 21 and 27, 2024, as part of efforts to address recent concerns about potential shortages.
This delivery comes amid growing claims of LPG scarcity in some regions.
Despite these concerns, the NPA has reassured the public that there is currently enough LPG in the country to meet national demand. Recent supply disruptions in the Western and Central Regions were due to power challenges at the Ghana National Gas Processing Plant in Atuabo, which affected the production of LPG. In response, the NPA directed LPG Marketing Companies (LPGMCs) to load supplies from Tema to serve retail outlets in the affected areas.
As of October 9, 2024, the NPA confirmed that the opening stock of LPG was sufficient to last almost two weeks of national consumption. Additionally, the Sentuo Oil Refinery continues to produce LPG daily, supporting the market’s needs.
The scheduled delivery of more than 20,000 metric tonnes of LPG is part of the Authority’s efforts to ensure a steady supply. This shipment falls under the LPG Tender program, aimed at maintaining adequate supply to meet consumer demand.
However, the NPA also highlighted that the boycott of the Quantum LPG Terminal and the Tema Multi-Product Terminal by some LPGMCs has placed added pressure on other depots in Tema, limiting the volume of LPG that can be loaded each day. Despite this, the Authority reassured the public that there is no imminent shortage.
“The Authority is working closely with all stakeholders to ensure that loading to the Western Region is prioritized to address the challenges in that area,” the NPA said.
Furthermore, the Ghana National Gas Processing Plant is expected to resume full production on October 15, 2024, which will help restore normal LPG supply levels. The NPA will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates on the availability of LPG.
In September, disruptions at the Atuabo Gas Processing Plant also contributed to power outages in certain areas. The Ghana Grid Company Ltd. (GRIDCo) and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) linked these outages to the challenges at the plant, which supplies natural gas to the Takoradi Thermal Power Station in Aboadze. This station has been operational since 1997 to complement Ghana’s hydroelectric power sources at Akosombo and Kpong.
As the country prepares for the LPG shipment later this month, the NPA is working to ensure a stable and reliable supply to meet consumer needs.
