Ghana’s petroleum downstream regulator National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has advised petroleum tanker drivers to desist from tampering with seals on the truck and fuel siphoning on the way to their destination.
To ensure the integrity of petroleum products on Bulk Road Vehicles (tankers), the NPA has installed seals on all licenced tankers.
Sadly, some recalcitrant drivers have been tampering with the seals while on their way to discharge fuel to depots.
Interacting with executives of the Buipe Branch Tanker Drivers Union as part of his five regional tours of petroleum installations and other state institutions, Dr Abdul-Hamid said that there are more than 15 incidents of seal tampering on daily basis, a situation he said was very worrying.
On fuel siphoning, he said not only was the siphoning of fuel a loss to the government but it also endangered the lives and properties of Ghanaians in the event of a fire that sometimes results from such activities.
He referred to the fire incident at Kaase in the Ashanti Region, which he said investigations into that incident would be concluded this week and the culprits would be punished according to the law, he promised.
He urged the executives to support the fight and educate their members to desist from carrying out these criminal activities.
The Vice-Chairman of the Tanker Drivers Union, Nashiru Mohammed, on his part, said he would educate his members to conduct their activity according to the regulations.
He further appealed to the NPA’s Chief Executive to help boost the level of activities at the Buipe depot to increase their business.
The General Manager, Terminal and Transmission of BOST, Josiah Ato Kwamina said in the last two years, there have been some works done at the depot to expand the capacity and operations.
He said with their current facilities, they are ready for an increase in demand.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com
