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Ghana to revise fuel sulphur content to 50ppm
The sulphur content in Ghana's fuel will be reduced from 3000ppm (parts per million) to 50 ppm says the Vice President of Ghana,Dr Mahamudu Bawumia
Ghana's vice president Dr. Mahamadu Bawumiah
This is expected to take effect on July 1, 2017.
The sulphur content reduction is in line with a new government policy to help reduce respiratory diseases triggered by fuel toxins with high Sulphur content.
During the last quarter of 2016 there was a global report indicating that Ghana’s market had been flooded with toxic diesel.
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Data from the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has revealed that Bulk Oil Storage and Transport Company Limited (BOST), the state owned strategic reserve holder, accounts for a significant 25% of the total quantity of diesel imported into the country for the first six months of 2016.
The remaining 75% was imported by 18 different Bulk Oil Distribution Companies (BDCs).
This is because the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) does not have the capacity to reduce the sulphur content in diesel to meet the global standard specification of 10 parts per million (ppm).
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It said the fuel puts the lives of millions of individuals at risk due to the inhalation of fumes from vehicles in those cars.
However, the government of Ghana says it is committed to revising the high Sulphur content down to 50ppm.
The move will see Ghana moving to same levels as what pertains in East African and Western countries.
The Vice President of Ghana announced that the July 1 date is to allow people to adjust.
It is a major policy for government, as far as the environment and toxins were concerned, he added.
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Renewable energy
In a related development, he said the new policy in the energy sector will focus on renewable energy so the country will not accept any thermal energy purchase agreement.
"If you don't have renewable energy to produce, don't come to Ghana, you have to go elsewhere," he sounded a word of caution.
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