The African Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP) has said that they the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) should further review downwards, its maximum sulphur content requirement for diesel products imported into the country.

Speaking to Accra-based Citi FM Executive Director of ACEP Dr Amin Adam said “the announcement that the standards have been reduced to 500 ppm is not satisfactory the reason being that importers can still import diesel with Ultra sulphur content of up to 10ppm. Then why don’t we put the standard at 10 ppm?”

“This decision by the NPA means that 500 ppm is still not the level of quality that we need. This decision is contradictory; it doesn’t make sense to us. It only shows that even though the regulator knows the quality of fuel that we need in Ghana, they are deliberately allowing importers to bring up to 500ppm which is still not good,” he added.

ACEP rather believes that the recent revision will cause importers from neighbouring West African Countries to trade via Ghana.

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“Of course Nigerian businessmen who are very smart will rely on Ghanaian bound vessels since they know that they import high-quality diesel,” he stated.

The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has reviewed the national sulphur specification for diesel from 3000 parts per million (ppm) to 500ppm.

This was contained in a statement released by the Authority. The statement said this takes effect from January 2017.

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The NPA, therefore, called on all fuel suppliers to abide by the new standards. It also said that suppliers could import ultra-low-sulphur-diesels to Ghana.

In a statement released by the NPA, "all suppliers of fuel to Ghana are by this revised specification, allowed to import diesel at 10ppm or lower. This means that whilst the revised national specification will be at 500pmm, suppliers of fuel could import ultra-low-sulphur-diesels (ULSD) to Ghana as pertains in Europe."

The reduction is as a result of a report by Public Eye which criticised Swiss firms for their links to the trade of diesel in Africa that contain high Sulphur considered illegal in Europe.

Reacting to the report earlier the Chief Executive of the NPA said the diesel with ultra-low-sulphur-diesels was too expensive for the Ghanaian consumer.

But the Public Relations Officer of the NPA, Yaro Kasambata speaking on Accra-based Joy FM said they do not perceive any increase in prices of the commodity.

“We don't envisage an increase in diesel prices as a result of a reduction in sulphur levels. Various models have been explored and the best foot has been put forward,” he said.