The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) is reported to have suspended the approval given to Chinese-run Sentuo Oil Refinery to sell petrol products.
Having launched about a month ago as Ghana’s first private refinery, the company has been facing accusations of supplying poor-quality fuel that’s causing damage to vehicles.
Industry groups like the IES, COPEC, and the Association of Oil Marketing Companies asked the NPA as the regulator, to apply sanctions and further called for an independent probe into the firm’s activities.
“The reported issues at Sentuo Oil Refinery have the potential to not only affect the operational efficiency of oil marketing companies but also negatively impact customer satisfaction,” their Wednesday letter addressed to the NPA had read.
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But officials at the NPA say the reason for the licence withdrawal has nothing to do with sub-standard fuel, but rather that the firm sold petrol beyond the required quantities it was allowed.
The Head of Quality Control at the NPA, Ubeidalah Saeed, is quoted by Joy Business to have said the challenge faced at fuel stations was because the required specifications were unmet.
“This is not due to the fact that the products were unwholesome but rather, the pressure is two points higher than maximum requirement. We have now reviewed the monitoring regime, and going forward, we will be counter-testing all the quality certificates that will be sent to NPA from Sentou Oil refinery,” he said.
