The performing Chief Government of the Nationwide Petroleum Authority (NPA), Mr Godwin Kudzo Tameklo, has reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to making sure compliance with the foundations and procedures governing operations within the nation’s downstream petroleum trade.
He acknowledged that whereas the NPA would carry a human face to the legislation, sanctions can be enforced towards trade gamers who violate the established guidelines.
Mr Tameklo made these remarks on the opening of the second version of the NPA Downstream Compliance Workshop in Accra on Monday.
In attendance on the three-day occasion are representatives from Bulk Oil Import, Distribution and Export Firms (BIDECS), Oil Advertising Firms (OMCs), LPG Advertising Companies (LPMCs), Refineries, Storage Depots, Allied Services Operators, and transport corporations.
Matters being mentioned on the workshop embrace Unified Petroleum Worth Fund Rules and Claims Administration, Compliance in Petroleum Product Imports, Exports and Distribution Operations. Others are Licenses, Permits, Authorized Necessities, and Native Content material. Insights and proposals from these sessions are anticipated to be consolidated into actionable methods to drive compliance.
The NPA Boss additionally assured stakeholders within the downstream petroleum trade that he would shield their companies whereas additionally imposing the legislation in an effort to guarantee trade development and sustainability.
“Because the performing CEO of this Authority, I cannot do something to hurt your enterprise, however in case you go opposite to the legislation, we’ll guarantee full compliance. We’ll proceed the partnership, however let there be mutual respect.
“We’ll guarantee elevated compliance. We can even guarantee compliance with the foundations and procedures. The rationale we’ve got to do this is for our collective security. Central to that is the problem of compliance in an effort to make the trade really feel comfy for all gamers”, he acknowledged.
He cited a couple of fireplace incidents, together with the Atomic Junction fireplace that occurred in 2017 that resulted within the lack of lives and property.
The NPA Boss noticed that individuals would need to intervene for offending corporations however he wouldn’t tolerate that.
Moreover, Mr Tameklo famous that laws are the core of the work of the NPA, and questioned the purpose of organising guidelines with out compliance.
“Rules include the legislation, and the legislation is the legislation. As soon as the legislation is the legislation, it Non-compliance comes with sanctions”, he talked about.
Mr Tameklo introduced that the Authority goals to humanise the present system that deactivates defaulting corporations from the NPA’s portal.
He acknowledged that the businesses can be given a five-day grace interval to conform, in order to not disrupt their operations.
The CEO of the Chamber of Bulk Oil Advertising Firms (COMAC), Dr Riverson Oppong, famous that whereas the downstream petroleum trade was burdened by extreme regulatory oversight and prolonged bureaucratic course ofes, resulting in market inefficiencies, delays in product availability, and rising prices in the end have an effect on customers.
“For the downstream sector to thrive, we should overcome these bureaucratic bottlenecks and encertain regulatory processes are swift and clear,” he mentioned.
Dr Oppong additionally highlighted the rising demand for petroleum merchandise in areas just like the Higher East, including that strategic planning and higher regulatory frameworks have been essential for sustainable development.
BY TIMES REPORTER
