Sulphur level of 50ppm waived till December 2024, continue to produce diesel and petrol at 1,500ppm — NPA to local refineries
The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has announced the directive to local refineries to produce and supply at Sulphur level of 50 parts per million (50ppm) in accordance with the ECOWAS directive on Harmonized Specification for Automotive Fuels has been waived.
The waiver effective Thursday, January 20, 2022 will run till 31st December 2024.
It means that local refineries that refine automotive fuels can continue to produce and supply diesel and petrol containing sulphur levels not exceeding 1,500 mg/kg (ppm) to the general public.
However, the NPA noted that diesel and petrol imported into the country shall continue to comply with the sulphur requirements stipulated at maximum 50 mg/kg (ppm) as contained in the ECOWAS Harmonized Specifications for Automotive Fuels.
"The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) wishes to inform the general public that per the ECOWAS directive on Harmonized Specification for Automotive Fuels, an interim waiver effective the date of this Notice and ending on 31st December 2024 has been granted to local refineries licensed by the Authority to produce and supply Diesel and Petrol containing sulphur levels not exceeding 1,500 mg/kg (ppm) to the general public," part of the NPA statement reads.
It added that “The implementation of the interim wavier is to ensure that local refineries remain operational, whilst they introduce measures to meet the Sulphur requirements stipulated in the Ecowas Harmonized Specifications for Automotive Fuels.”
During the period of the waiver, NPA indicated that it shall not result in any price differentials in the sale and purchase of Diesel and regular Petrol at the retail outlets with respect to their permissible sulphur content.
Find more details from the NPA release below:
PRESS RELEASE
20th January 2022
Waiver on Sulphur Specification in Automotive Fuels Produced by Local Refineries.
- The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) wishes to inform the general public that per the ECOWAS directive on Harmonized Specification for Automotive Fuels, an interim waiver effective the date of this Notice and ending on 31st December 2024 has been granted to local refineries licensed by the Authority to produce and supply Diesel and Petrol containing sulphur levels not exceeding 1,500 mg/kg (ppm) to the general public.
- Without prejudice to the interim waiver granted in sub paragraph 1 above, Diesel and Petrol imported into the country shall continue to comply with the sulphur requirements stipulated at maximum 50 mg/kg (ppm) as contained in the Ecowas Harmonized Specifications for Automotive Fuels.
- The implementation of the interim wavier is to ensure that local refineries remain operational, whilst they introduce measures to meet the Sulphur requirements stipulated in the Ecowas Harmonized Specifications for Automotive Fuels.
- In view of the introduction of this interim waiver, Diesel and Petrol produced by local refineries shall be allowed for sale and purchase at retail outlets and may be comingled with imported products for sale to the general public.
- Notwithstanding sub-paragraph 4 above, the permissible sulphur levels of Diesel and Petrol to be sold to the general public whether comingled or not shall at all times not exceed 1,500 mg/kg (ppm) within the interim waiver period.
- The application of this interim waiver to local refineries shall not result in any price differentials in the sale and purchase of Diesel and regular Petrol at the retail outlets with respect to their permissible sulphur content.
- The general public is hereby assured that notwithstanding the implementation of this interim waiver for the local refineries, the NPA shall continue to ensure strict compliance with approved sulphur levels in the Petroleum downstream industry.
- Where fuel from a retail outlet exceeds the sulphur content of 50 mg/kg (ppm) the Dealer and Oil Marketing Company (OMC) shall produce documentation evincing the consignment was procured from a local refinery. Failure to produce the required documentation may result in the application of pecuniary penalties in an amount of GH₵30,000.00 on the OMC and/or Dealer.
Signed
Corporate Affairs Directorate