Statement: 8 Member Investigative Committee Set To Investigate BOST Off-Spec Fuel Saga

Wednesday, June 28, 2017 - The Ministry’s attention has been drawn to the various media reports on the issue of the release of 5 million litres of off-sec fuel from the Accra Plains Depot of the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company (BOST).

We have also received a report of the preliminary investigations conducted by the National Petroleum Authority on the issues. We note that BOST has so far evacuated a total of 471,000 litres of the said product and has currently suspended evacuation in compliance with NPA instructions.

We wish to assure the general public, that the Ministry is determined to ensure that the integrity of the quality of petroleum products supplied in the country is protected. In view of this the ministry is in the process of setting up an 8 member investigative committee into the matter. The Terms of Reference of the Ministerial committee include but will not be limited to the following

Determine the circumstances that created the off-spec product
Review the procedures undertaken by BOST to evacuate the product
Ascertain the quality and remaining quantity of the product
Determine if the product can be corrected, if not determine the alternative use for the product
Review the transaction

The committee will be made up of representatives of:

National Petroleum Authority (NPA)
Tema oil Refinery (TOR)
Ghana Standards Authority (GSA)
Bureau of National Investigations
Chamber of Bulk oil Distributors
Association of Oil Marketing Companies
Energy Commission
A representative from the relevant Civil Society Organizations

The committee is expected to advise the Ministry on the necessary technical, administrative and legal actions to be taken.

SIGNED
BOAKYE AGYARKO
MINISTER