The Institute for Energy Security (IES) and the Chamber for Petroleum Consumers (COPEC) have called on the Office of the Special Prosecutor to investigate the activities of the Chinese Sentuo Oil Refinery company.
IES and COPEC, in a joint statement dated February 21, stated, amongst other things, that the Chinese company has engaged in several illegalities in the downstream petroleum market. They accused the Chinese oil refinery of operating without the appropriate licenses.
“The IES and COPEC call on the Special Prosecutor to investigate the activities of the Sentuo Oil Refinery leading up to unspecified and sub-standard petroleum products finding their way into the Ghanaian petroleum market,” the joint statement reads in parts.
Also, the advocacy groups revealed that “Sentuo Oil Refinery has failed to collaborate with the Inspection and Monitoring Department of the NPA to acquire the necessary permits and develop the necessary checklists for the inspection of the refinery facility.”
IES and COPEC maintained that aside from the construction permit granted to the Chinese Sentuo Oil refinery, no other licenses have been issued to warrant Sentuo to commence oil processing, trading, and marketing, stating that the action of Sentuo Oil Refinery is “in clear contravention of established national laws and acts.”
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Meanwhile, IES and COPEC have served notice to drag both the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) and the NPA to the law court if the “current menace is not addressed.”
President Akufo-Addo commissions Sentuo Oil Refinery
It would be recalled that President Akufo-Addo, on January 29, commissioned the USD$2 billion Sentuo Oil Refinery in Tema.
According to President Akufo-Addo, the project represents the nation’s will to take control of its future, improve its economy, lessen its reliance on foreign oil, and attract investment.
“No longer will we be solely reliant on external sources for fuel. Instead, we will harness our natural resources to fuel our progress.
It will not only provide a stable supply of petroleum products but will also create jobs and empower local communities to contribute to our industrialisation drive,” the President said.
IES and COPEC, however, criticised the President for going ahead to commission Sentuo Oil Refinery at the expense of the ailing local refinery, Tema Oil Refinery (TOR).
The statement further called on President Akufo-Addo to dedicate to TOR the same time and energy he has dedicated to a foreign oil refinery company.
Read the joint statement below
