GSA reviewing sulphur content in Marine Gas Oil – NPA

Mr Alhassan S. Tampuli, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority, Friday said Ghana is in the process of reviewing the sulphur contents in Marine Gas Oil (MGO) to safeguard its environment.

Speaking on his behalf, Ms Alpha Welbeck Director of Pricing, Planning and Research, NPA, said the Ghana Standard Authority was reviewing the sulphur standard from 3000ppm max to 50 ppm for regular gas oil.

Ghana is expected to meet the International Maritime Organisation global sulphur cap, which comes into force by January 1, 2020.

“The Ghana Standards Authority is in the process of developing standards for MGO to meet the requirements of ships and international standards.”

The NPA boss made this known at this year’s Oil and Shipping Africa Conference held in Accra.

The two day conference hosted by Ghana Oil Company (GOIL), in partnership with PETROSPOT Limited, a United Kingdom based organisation, formed part of the Maritime Africa Week programme.

Over 60 participants from Nigeria, Botswana and South Africa are attending the conference.

Cleaner fuels have been a guarantee of a better environment for all and the world is expected to achieve an 80 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions from ships by the year 2050.

Experts say some of the consequence of the sulphur cap implementation, may include higher bunker bills and the need for increased liquidity in order to stay in business.

Touching on the MGO supply chain, Mr Tampuli said the NPA has so far licensed 36 Bulk Distribution Companies (BDCs) and over 109 Oil marketing Companies (OMCs)

Out of the 109 OMC’s, 43 have received licence to do bunkering.

The NPA boss cited challenges confronting bunkering industry as the inability to effectively monitor bunkering activities offshore to ensure compliance, limited infrastructure for the importation and storage of MGO and the dumping of MGO at retail outlets due to disparity between regular gas oil and MGO, following the implementation of guidelines and imposition of taxes.

Mr Tampuli called for the enforcement of guidelines to monitor the supply and distribution of MGO on local and foreign markets.

According to him there was the need to enhance collaboration with key stakeholders to monitor activities at sea.

He said the development of infrastructure Master Plan was vital to the bunkering industry.

Mr Alex Josiah Adzew, Chief Operating Officer, GOIL, said Ghana was committed to meeting the international requirement of reducing sulphur content of MGO by January 2020.