BOSTenergies blames Bolgatanga depot works for lower Sahel fuel exports, denies shortage

Pinned summary · as of 16:53

BOSTenergies, the state-owned fuel company, says smaller diesel and petrol shipments to Burkina Faso and Mali stem from renovation of its depot in Bolgatanga, and that Ghana is not heading for a fuel shortage. The statement on Thursday, 17 September, followed a Reuters interview in which managing director Afetsi Awoonor spoke about exports.

What we know

• BOSTenergies has sent less diesel and petrol to Burkina Faso and Mali in recent weeks, according to Today, Energy News Africa, The Vaultz News and Onua Online.
• The company blamed the fall on refurbishment of its Bolgatanga depot, which it describes as its gateway to the Sahel, and said the work is close to finished. It also said the lower volumes do not point to a shortage at home.
• BOSTenergies said politics, security and diplomacy played no part in the decision to export less.
• According to the company, regional customers are still being served by road tankers loaded at its Tema depot while Bolgatanga is out of full use, and full regional capacity will return once the works end.
• Mr Awoonor told Reuters that BOSTenergies met only about half of the 80,000 metric tonnes Burkina Faso asked for in July and August, and sent Mali 10,000 tonnes against a further request of 40,000 for August and September.
• Mr Awoonor also said BOSTenergies holds about 30% of Ghana's fuel market, that diesel makes up about two-thirds of its supplies, and that diesel use at home is climbing with economic activity.
• He described supply as obtainable though expensive, adding that a steep rise in demand has put pressure on stocks and made price stability at home harder to achieve.
• Mr Awoonor said BOSTenergies plans an LPG terminal at Tema by the last quarter of next year to begin importing cooking gas, and a storage site in Kumasi, with terminals at six locations to follow in phases.

What's disputed / unconfirmed

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  The reason for the export cut is presented differently. Today reported Mr Awoonor as saying shipments were reduced from August to put Ghanaian demand first, and Onua Online and The Vaultz News quoted him as saying the company was managing exports to keep enough fuel for the country. BOSTenergies later said the main cause was the Bolgatanga works.
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  BOSTenergies said the Reuters coverage wrongly implied that Ghana faced an imminent shortage and had begun rationing supplies to neighbours. The company says no rationing was introduced for the home market.
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  Onua Online reported that the company links the lower exports partly to swings in the international market, and The Vaultz News reported that the depot works have temporarily changed the cost and logistics of regional sales; neither point appeared in other reports.
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  Onua Online reported that BOSTenergies is working with government and regulators to speed up the Bolgatanga rehabilitation; no other report mentions this.

Why it matters for Ghana

Diesel powers trucks, generators, farm machinery and many trotros, so any doubt over supply concerns traders and drivers from Tema to Tamale. The company's explanation puts the focus on Bolgatanga, the depot serving northern Ghana and Sahel buyers, where the completion date will show whether regional supply returns to normal. Mr Awoonor's comments on high costs and strained supply also show how difficult it is to keep pump prices steady.