The response of the National Peorume Authority (NPA) on reports of alleged ‘bad fuel’ on the market has not been helpful, Founding President of Imani Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, has said.
This was after the Bulk Energy Storage and Transportation Limited Company (BESTLC), formerly BOST, advised members of the public to disregard claims that it is responsible for the importation of manganese-laden fuel that has caused engine malfunction in some vehicles.
BOST’s statement was in reaction to media reports that the Gold-for-Oil policy is to blame for the importation of manganese-laden gasoline onto the Ghanaian market.
“We wish to state unequivocally that, we have not imported any product under the policy which is off the specifications per the regulations of the NPA and the product specifications of the GSA,” the BESTLC said in a press release dated November, 27, 2023.
It noted that as the organization responsible for importing products on behalf of the government under the Gold for Oil policy, it ensures that they meet the required standards.
“The product imports are guided by specific regulations of the National Petroleum Authority, NPA, and include specific product component tests which the Ghana Standards Authority, GSA, carries out before products are passed for discharge (off-loading),” the BESTLC assured.
They explained further that, “We have so far imported twenty-three (23) cargoes under the policy and none has failed the quality test as carried out by the GSA.”
The NPA earlier said it had investigated complaints from some petroleum product consumers about the reduced performance of their vehicles which they attribute to fuel that they have purchased at some retail stations in Ghana.
The NPA said that all fuel consumed in the country meets the national standards for fuel specification set by the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA).
The Authority explained that the Ghana motor gasoline standard (GS 140:2022) allows for some level of trace metals such as manganese up to 18 milligrams per litre (mg/l).
Hitherto, fuels that were imported into the country had much lower levels of manganese. However, in recent times, the fuels that have been imported have contained levels of manganese closer to the maximum allowable limit.
“That some car manufacturers particularly turbo engine vehicles, recommend the use of gasoline that does not contain harmful manganese-based fuel additives. For example, the Honda CRV 2017 Manual. ‘That all the complaints that have come are from users of gasoline vehicles that are in the category of vehicles mentioned in 4 above.
“The NPA in collaboration with the GSA has already initiated steps to review the national standards, which will reduce the maximum allowable manganese level in regular gasoline from 18mg/l to 6mg/l and premium gasoline grade from 18mg/l to 2mg/l,” a statement issued by the authority said.
In a Facebook post, Mr Franklin Cudjoe said “BOST says its huge products imports under a cheaper Gold4Oil regime isn’t responsible for the manganese overload many vehicle users have reported. The NPA’s response has not been helpful. It says owners of turbocar engines should read their manuals to know acceptable manganese levels their cars can tolerate. NPA says the Standards Authourity has the responsibility for assurance standards so until GSA gives its verdict on which fuel contains the alarming levels of manganese destroying car engines, we wait.
“Well, many folks have complained about GOIL’s Ron 95 ( gasoline) being the source of excessive levels of manganese, hence their woes. Perhaps the GSA can start from there as GOIL has the most branches and relies heavily on the Gold4Oil scheme for its products.”
