Selling ‘dirty’ oil apt but process wrong – Gasop CEO

The decision by the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company Limited (BOST) to sell contaminated fuel for use by industrial firms was a good decision, however, it was executed wrongly, Kwadwo Poku, CEO of Gasop Oil, has said.

BOST has been accused of selling five million litres of contaminated fuel to a private firm for distribution to the pumps, a development which many fear will damage engines of vehicles and other equipment that operate on fuel.

Accordingly, the Minority in Parliament has demanded the “immediate interdiction” of the Managing Director of BOST, Alfred Obeng Boateng, over the “bizarre” and “dubious” contract awarded to Movenpiina Company Limited to distribute the contaminated oil.

However, Mr Poku said: “The management of BOST decided to sell it and you can’t blame them for it… Why keep it for six months while they can clear it and make money from rental of the space?”

He was quick to add that one can have good intentions but the end result might not turn out to be so, depending on how it is executed.

Mr Poku explained on Class91.3FM’s Executive Breakfast Show on Wednesday, June 28 that the contaminated fuel could have been taken in bits and blended with high quality fuel and resold on the market but that will take up to six months for BOST to be able to clear the five million litres from their storage facilities.

He said there are industries in Tema that use “even kernel oil”, adding that their machines can use the contaminated fuel.

For him, BOST should have contacted the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) on the development to help find “buyers and also ensure that the product does not end up in the market”.

He said they should have had a better coordination with the NPA so that the product does not end up where it is not intended.

For him, BOST should have invited bids from several companies in order to ensure value for money instead of selling to only one company.

At a press conference on Tuesday, the Minority called for a full-scale investigation by the regulatory authorities into the “corrupt” deal.

The Minority also demanded the “immediate withdrawal of the contaminated product from the market to protect consumers and assurances that this will not recur”.

The Minority also said the money lost by the state due to the saga, which it estimated at GHS14.25million, must be retrieved by “surcharging the offending officials at BOST in line with a recent Supreme Court decision”.