Shortage of LPG causing angst among households

Challenges facing the supply and storage of (LPG Liquefied Petroleum Gas) has been attributed to shortage of adequate storage tanks.

Mr. Abass Ibrahim Tasunti, Director-Regulation and Planning, NPA, admitted that while there are reserves, they aren’t always sufficient to meet demand. He attributed the inadequate storage infrastructure to limited investment in LPG storage tanks.

Private sector participation has been vital in expanding LPG storage capacity over the years. Beyond the challenges of importation and storage, local production of LPG at Atuabo has also been crucial in maintaining supply.

Meanwhile, the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Marketers Association of Ghana is warning of a possible shortage of gas on the market from next week.

This is due to the current state LPG reserves in the country and challenges with new rules announced by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) for importing gas. The association is also projecting price-hikes due to developments on the international market.

Vice President of the association Gabriel Kumi notes that the Atuabo Gas Plant is currently unable to meet demand from the association, forcing LPG marketers to rely on foreign imports.

Atuabo, which supplies about 45 to 50 percent of our national needs, hasn’t been performing well.

Consequently, Mr. Kumi suggested the situation can be resolved if NPA responds to recommendations put forward by LPG marketers. He disclosed that the few stations with LPG are under pressure due to the situation.

However, the Tema Oil Refinery has assured that the challenges have been resolved. According to TOR, the situation occurred due to initial challenges with the BDCs.

A key distinction between LPG and other petroleum products, such as petrol and diesel, lies in storage capacity. Unlike petrol and diesel, which can be stocked for up to seven weeks, LPG storage is limited to much shorter periods.

NPA has initiated measures such as the Tender Programme, which ensures continuous availability of LPG.

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