The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) and other stakeholders have outlined measures to avert the recurrence of flooding at fuel filling stations in Koforidua of the Eastern Region.
The short-, medium- and long-term measures include reengineering the Okumi River storm drain; dredging the storm drain; halting further development in wetland areas; perforating holes through the walls of filling stations and regular inspections.
Others are the development of a buffer zone along the Okumi River, and discouraging people from throwing debris into the river to allow for free-flow of water.
The actions were agreed upon last Tuesday by stakeholders – including the Ghana Highways Authority, the Department of Urban Roads, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and the Ghana National Fire and Rescue Service – after an inspection of three filling stations in Koforidua that were flooded on October 2, 2022.
The flooding led to closure of the Vivo Energy, Frimps and Goil filling stations by the NPA inspection team. Goil and Frimps have passed the water presence, observation well, marker concentration and product purity tests conducted by the NPA and been allowed to start operations; but Vivo Energy, which has failed the tests, remains closed.
A Deputy Chief Executive of NPA, Mr. Perry Okudzeto, supported by the Director of Quality Assurance of NPA, Mr. Theophilus Mohenu, visited the filling stations in the company of Eastern Regional Minister, Mr. Seth Kwame Acheampong, and heads of other state institutions.
In his remarks at a stakeholders’ meeting after the inspection, Mr. Okudzeto said the Eastern Regional NPA team did an initial assessment of the filling stations – after which a team of directors and senior officers from Accra also inspected the affected outlets and presented a report to management.
Mr. Okudzeto said he was detailed by the Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, to come and learn at first-hand what had happened, have a discussion with stakeholders, and put measures in place to avert any future disaster at filling stations.
He said the NPA does not intend to close the retail outlets, but fashion-out how they can be supported to operate in a safer environment.
“It’s not a case of shutting them down, but what we can do for them to operate in a safer environment; so that if a flood happens they will be safer and help other outlets in the city avoid being submerged,” he said.
Consequently, Mr. Okudzeto said two of the filling stations, Frimps and Goil, which had met the prescribed requirements had resumed operations; and indicated that Vivo Energy will also be allowed to start operations once it passes the tests.
In his remarks, Mr. Mohenu said it is an industry practice for retail outlets to check for water in their petroleum products every morning; but it has come to the Authority’s attention that many of them are not complying with that requirement.
Consequently, he said, three weeks ago the NPA wrote letters to Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) stating that, henceforth, it is mandatory for retail outlets to check for water in their products every morning and record findings.
Mr. Mohenu said the NPA team will be visiting the retail outlets monthly to check for water and quality of products, and compare with what was recorded.
He cautioned that appropriate actions will be taken against retail outlets that are found to have falsified their recordings.
For his part, Mr. Acheampong affirmed the commitment of government to creating an enabling environment for businesses, including retailing petroleum products, to thrive.
