Energy Minister commends GOIL PLC for setting up five modern autogas stations

The establishment of five autogas stations by GOIL PLC has been praised by Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Minister of Energy. This move he said will expedite government efforts to fully execute the Cylinder Recirculation Module (CRM) strategy by 2030.

According to Dr. Opoku Prempeh, the launch of these facilities by GOIL PLC is a significant step forward for the nation's energy policy, which has been to use natural gas as a transition fuel for transportation and power generation.

"GOIL's establishment of these contemporary autogas stations is therefore fully in line with Ghana's just energy transition pathway to net-zero status," stated the Energy Minister.

Dr. Opoku Prempeh stated this in a speech read on his behalf by Mr. Andrew Kofi Egyapa Mercer, Deputy Energy Minister, at the commissioning ceremony held at the Burma Camp GOIL Service Station, Accra, and simultaneously at five specific locations nationwide.

The five locations include the Cape Coast By-Pass in the Central Region, the Kpeshie Service Station in the Greater Accra Region, and Kentinkrono and Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.

The fifth, Paco Gas Station, in Takoradi in the Western Region, is going through the final approval processes by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA).

The activation of these contemporary autogas stations, according to the energy minister, represents a major accomplishment in the application of the government's energy policy with regard to the transportation industry.

"It is also anticipated that the connection between autogas and a reliable local brand such as GOIL will boost trust in the use of gas for vehicle fueling and eliminate any preconceived notions about safety that may exist regarding the use of gas for transportation," he continued.

He emphasised that the development of businesses and services such as expert retrofitting and servicing garages, which are essential to support the gradual shift towards vehicles powered by petrol, will be accelerated by the construction of more auto petrol stations.

Ms Esther Anku, a Senior Programme Officer at the NPA, urged GOIL management to embrace technological innovations to deliver an unrivalled customer experience as well as maintain the safety measures embedded in the facilities.

Mr. Kwame Osei-Prempeh, Group Chief Executive Officer of GOIL, said in his remarks that, as a leading oil marketing company, GOIL is constructing two Cylinder Bottling Plants, one in Kumasi and another in Tema, in addition to the five modern autogas stations commissioned.

Mr. Osei-Prempeh, who is also the GOIL Managing Director, added that the commissioning of the facilities will further strengthen and widen the company’s portfolio and consolidate gains already made in the LPG business.

He said, “As an indigenous company, GOIL will continue to do its business in the national interest and ensure that the safety of consumers always comes first”.

He said the construction of the stations was in partnership with South Korea’s Yooju Engineering and Construction Limited.

Present at the ceremony were Mr. Patrick Kwame Apke Akorli, former Group CEO and MD of GOIL; Prof. Azumah Nelson, Brand Ambassador of GOIL; and Mrs. Faustina Nelson, former Board Member of GOIL.

Others include board members and management of GOIL Plc; Mr Moses Asaga and Mr Alhassan Tampuli, former CEOs of NPA; and Mr Kwaku Agyeman Duah, Industry Coordinator of the Association of Oil Marketing Companies.

The rest includes officials from COPEC, NPA, Ghana Standards Authority, Environmental Authority, Ghana National Fire Services, Factories, and Inspectorate Department, as well as some GOIL dealers and high-level military officers.