IES cautions Gov’t on selling oil to selected OMCs under the Gold for oil policy

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The Executive Director of the Institute of Energy Security (IES), Nana Amoasi VII has cautioned the government on its bid to sell oil to designated Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) under the Gold for Oil Policy. This, the IES envisages, will only contribute to cronyism in the Akuffo-Addo led Administration.

Pressing on the advocacy driven by the National Petroleum Authority to giving out oil to selected OMCs, the IES Director said the move will only create an ill-starred situation for other chain players in the Petroleum Down-Stream Sector.

The CEO of National Petroleum Authority speaking at the Meet the Press series on Wednesday, February 22, said that the company will only sell oil to selective basis on Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) with more than 45 channels under the Gold for Oil Program.

According to Mr. Mustapha Hamid, he was bombarded with questions via numerous calls on why the first consignment of oil could not reflect in prices at the pumps.

Yet he stated that the definitive intention of the government in implementing the policy is to ensure that fuel is reasonably priced in the country

Nana Amoasi VII has however, reiterated that the government should re-evaluate its decision on the mode of selling oil to OMCs under the Gold for Oil policy to prevent allies of government getting access to them.

“You brought about 40,000 metric tons just about four weeks ago and that represents just about a week of our national consumption. Can this have an effect on Ghanaians and disposable income of consumers? If you want to have any meaningful impact with that program with the supposedly fuel, then of course you should be covering more than 50 percent of our national demand. But 40,000 metric represents just 10 percent of our monthly demand when we are talking about other products.

“If you are talking about diesel we consume roughly 150,000 metric tons a month. So if you brought 40,000 metric tons in one month and you want to have an impact on the market then of course you may be dreaming. It will not have any impact,” IES Executive Director mentioned.
“So cutting some people out and giving the product out to others on selective terms of which we are quite concerned it may land in the hands of cronies and friends of the government. And others may have to struggle or beg to have access just to deviate from the price deregulation regime.” – He concluded.