Hassan Tampuli, CEO of tNational Petroleum Authority
Residents of Ayawaso North Municipality in the Greater Accra Region have embraced the cylinder recirculation model policy being spearheaded by the National Petroleum Authority(NPA) to curb gas explosions in the country.
According to them, the inplementation of the policy would help to end the rampant gas explosions which has destroyed several properties and many lives.
The residents gave their support when officials of the NPA led by the CEO, Hassan Tampuli, met chop bar operators, opinion leaders, chiefs, traders and market women at Maamobi to sensitize them about the Cylinder Re-circulation Model policy which would be rolled out in 2019.
President Akufo-Addo gave a directive to the NPA to bring reforms in LPG distribution in the country on October 12, 2017, following the Atomic Junction gas explosion that claimed 6 lives including Net 2 TV cameraman Mohammed Ashley.
The NPA thus drafted the Cylinder Recirculation Model policy and visited some countries including Peru to learn some lessons in order to guide the Authority in the implementation of the policy.
Under the policy, LPG bottling plants would be established in industrial areas instead of the current situation where gas filling outlets are scattered in residential areas.
It is expected that LPG Marketing companies would come up with different sizes of cylinders ranging from 3kg, 6kg, 12kg....34kg and these cylinders would be refilled and sent to LPG distribution centres where consumers could go there and exchange their empty cylinders for a filled one.
In an interview with this reporter they said the rampant gas explosions in the country was a source of worry to them, hence their readiness to support the policy.
According to one women, similar policy is being implemented in Cote D'voire and urged Ghanaians to support the policy.
"I have a sister in Cote D'voire and I visit her very often. They have similar thing and there has not been any gas explosion there," she said.
Another woman who shared her thoughts, said she fully support the policy because it would curb gas explosion.
She was however concerned about the level of unemployment situation in the country and expressed the view that the policy should not lead to loss of jobs as has been the concern of Ghana LPG Operators Association
Chief Executive Officer of NPA, Hassan Tampuli, was happy about level of understanding the residents have about the program.
He called on the members of the Ghana LPG Operators Association to embrace the policy since the end users have embraced it.
