NPA Investigates the Shortage of kerosene

The Acting Executive Secretary of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Alexander Mould says his outfit is investigating the cause of the scarcity of kerosene on the market currently.

The statement was made following an exercise carried out in line with the Authority’s statuary functions of enforcing the standards of performance prescribed for service providers that are engaged in the supply, marketing and sale of petroleum products.

The authority embarked on a kerosene monitoring and verification exercise in some parts of the country after which it reported that some oil marketing companies and transporters were engaged in the diversion of kerosene.

“This is an offence as stated under sanctions for various offences in the Ghana gazette dated March 4, 2011,” said the NPA in a statement.

The diversion of kerosene has been a thorny issue in recent times and this has compelled the authority to introduce a chemical marker in kerosene to prevent the adulteration.

The distribution of subsidized kerosene through the Public Distribution System rests with Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) which carry out their duties through the tanker owners. Both players are regulated by the NPA.

Allison-Madueke said her ministry would investigate allegations by petroleum marketing associations in some national newspapers yesterday. National newspapers reported recently that two oil marketing associations accused a company of selling kerosene as Jet A1 to airlines as fuel.

The NPA threatened to publish the names of the Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) that flout its laws.

In addition to publishing the names of OMCs in the print and electronic media, the authority has also warned that it would suspend their licenses for a minimum period of three months.

The authority, in a letter, which was addressed to the Industrial Coordinator of Association of Oil Marketing Companies, urged OMCs, tanker owners and the executive secretary of the tanker owners union to ensure that their companies do not engage in the diversion of kerosene.**