Gas shortage hits Accra, other places (October 6, 2014)
An acute Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) shortage has hit Accra and
other parts of the country, forcing consumers to return home from gas
filling stations with empty cylinders.
There are reports of long queues in Koforidua and fruitless searches by consumers in some parts of the Volta Region.
But users of the product for domestic, commercial and industrial purposes may heave sighs of relief following an assurance by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) that it will take delivery of gas from today.
The Public Relations Officer of the NPA, Mr Yaro Kasambata, said about 7,000 metric tonnes of the product would be received at the Tema and the Takoradi ports today.
Users of LPG in Accra and parts of the Eastern and Volta regions who had thronged the filling stations for gas last week had to go home with empty cylinders, as the product had run out at the various filling stations.
At the Go Gas LPG filling station at the Kawukudi Junction, near the Accra Girls’ Senior High School, a “NO GAS” sign was boldly displayed at the entrance.
An attendant told the Daily Graphic that his outfit had run out of stock last Friday, adding that the station expected supplies from next week.
Businesses affected
The shortage is already biting hard on taxi drivers and food vendors who depend on the product to operate.
A disappointed taxi driver, Mr Yao Tettey, whose car runs on LPG, said he had used the little gas he had in the car while searching for some to buy.
“I would have to park the vehicle and stay at home until I get some," he said.
A fried yam seller near the Achimota Lorry Park, Ms Joyce Oduro, said she had to fall on charcoal in order to stay in business after a fruitless search for gas last Friday.
The situation was not different at the Dzorwulu LPG Station, which was closed at the time of the visit there by the Daily Graphic, with no attendant to speak to.
At the Amoh Gas Limited Station at Achimota-Apenkwa, there was a long queue of gas cylinders waiting to be filled.
At the Naadab Gas Station located at Tesano, the Amoh Gas Station at Apenkwa, Trinity Gas at Alajo and two other stations located at Achimota, there was no gas as of 12 noon yesterday.
In the Volta Region, consumers from Sogakope through to Aflao had no gas supplies, according to reports received by the Daily Graphic.
Assurance
But speaking to the Daily Graphic, Mr Kasambata said 3,000 metric tonnes and 4,000 metric tonnes of LPG to be delivered by today at the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) and the Takoradi Port would be pushed to consumers the same day.
He was optimistic that the two consignments would be augmented by additional supplies to Fuel Trade Limited, a bulk distributor in Tema, which would receive an additional 5,000 metric tonnes between October 6 and October 7, saying that would be enough to adequately deal with the situation.
He said the pockets of shortage would ease within the week.
Reason for the shortage
The latest shortage has been attributed to maintenance works to replace a pipeline between the Tema Harbour and the area around TOR where gas is delivered.
The replacement of the pipeline has been going on for a week and that has affected the delivery of gas through that pipeline.
Writer’s email:seth.bokpe @graphic.com.gh
But users of the product for domestic, commercial and industrial purposes may heave sighs of relief following an assurance by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) that it will take delivery of gas from today.
The Public Relations Officer of the NPA, Mr Yaro Kasambata, said about 7,000 metric tonnes of the product would be received at the Tema and the Takoradi ports today.
Users of LPG in Accra and parts of the Eastern and Volta regions who had thronged the filling stations for gas last week had to go home with empty cylinders, as the product had run out at the various filling stations.
At the Go Gas LPG filling station at the Kawukudi Junction, near the Accra Girls’ Senior High School, a “NO GAS” sign was boldly displayed at the entrance.
An attendant told the Daily Graphic that his outfit had run out of stock last Friday, adding that the station expected supplies from next week.
Businesses affected
The shortage is already biting hard on taxi drivers and food vendors who depend on the product to operate.
A disappointed taxi driver, Mr Yao Tettey, whose car runs on LPG, said he had used the little gas he had in the car while searching for some to buy.
“I would have to park the vehicle and stay at home until I get some," he said.
A fried yam seller near the Achimota Lorry Park, Ms Joyce Oduro, said she had to fall on charcoal in order to stay in business after a fruitless search for gas last Friday.
The situation was not different at the Dzorwulu LPG Station, which was closed at the time of the visit there by the Daily Graphic, with no attendant to speak to.
At the Amoh Gas Limited Station at Achimota-Apenkwa, there was a long queue of gas cylinders waiting to be filled.
At the Naadab Gas Station located at Tesano, the Amoh Gas Station at Apenkwa, Trinity Gas at Alajo and two other stations located at Achimota, there was no gas as of 12 noon yesterday.
In the Volta Region, consumers from Sogakope through to Aflao had no gas supplies, according to reports received by the Daily Graphic.
Assurance
But speaking to the Daily Graphic, Mr Kasambata said 3,000 metric tonnes and 4,000 metric tonnes of LPG to be delivered by today at the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) and the Takoradi Port would be pushed to consumers the same day.
He was optimistic that the two consignments would be augmented by additional supplies to Fuel Trade Limited, a bulk distributor in Tema, which would receive an additional 5,000 metric tonnes between October 6 and October 7, saying that would be enough to adequately deal with the situation.
He said the pockets of shortage would ease within the week.
Reason for the shortage
The latest shortage has been attributed to maintenance works to replace a pipeline between the Tema Harbour and the area around TOR where gas is delivered.
The replacement of the pipeline has been going on for a week and that has affected the delivery of gas through that pipeline.
Writer’s email:seth.bokpe @graphic.com.gh
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