The Ministry is Energy has set up an eight member committee to investigate the over 5 million litres of contaminated oil sold to Zupoil.
This comes after reports that the 5 million liters of contaminated fuel disposed by the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company Limited (BOST) has found its way on the market.
The situation become murkier after an official from African Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP)Â claimed he has been sold the contaminated oil which has affected his car engine.
The Minority in Parliament has called for the suspension of the BOST Managing Director, Alfred Obeng for full scale investigation to be conducted into the matter.
Based this backdrop, the Energy Ministry in a statement signed by Minister, Boakye Agyarko assured the public of prompt action.
Below is the full statement
MINISTRY OF ENERGY STATEMENT ON BOST OFF-SPEC FUEL ISSUES
Wednesday, June 28, 2017 – The Ministry’s attention has been drawn to the various media reports on the issue of the release of 5 million litres of off-sec fuel from the Accra Plains Depot of the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company (BOST). We have also received a report of the preliminary investigations conducted by the National Petroleum Authority on the issues. We note that BOST has so far evacuated a total of 471,000 litres of the said product and has currently suspended evacuation in compliance with NPA instructions.
We wish to assure the general public, that the Ministry is determined to ensure that the integrity of the quality of petroleum products supplied in the country is protected. In view of this the ministry is in the process of setting up an 8 member investigative committee into the matter. The Terms of Reference of the Ministerial committee include but will not be limited to the following
- Determine the circumstances that created the off-spec product
- Review the procedures undertaken by BOST to evacuate the product
- Ascertain the quality and remaining quantity of the product
- Determine if the product can be corrected, if not determine the alternative use for the product
- Review the transaction
The committee will be made up of representatives of:
- National Petroleum Authority (NPA)
- Tema oil Refinery (TOR)
- Ghana Standards Authority (GSA)
- Bureau of National Investigations
- Chamber of Bulk oil Distributors
- Association of Oil Marketing Companies
- Energy Commission
- A representative from the relevant Civil Society Organizations
The committee is expected to advise the Ministry on the necessary technical, administrative and legal actions to be taken.
SIGNED
BOAKYE AGYARKO
MINISTER