The LPG Operators Association has reiterated its call on the government to reconsider its decision to implement the Cylinder Recirculation Module.
The Association has on a number of occasions raised concerns about the policy indicating that its implementation will lead to job losses.
The Association maintains that its members have adhered to all safety measures which was one of the major reasons for the introduction of the policy.
Executives of the Association who spoke to Citi News during the climax of their 4th National Congress in Kumasi also want the government to lift the construction of new LPG retail outlets.
Executive Member of the Association, Ato Assam said the implementation of the policy will burden users of the product.
“The President said the policy that the UN wanted the Ghana government to roll out has changed dramatically. What the UN wanted was penetration of LPG gas by at least 50% by 2030. He never mentioned Cylinder Reciculation Module (CRM). CRM is being formulated by our government and we are pleading and saying that we can still achieve that 50% CRM with the policy we are using now and therefore CRM is never the way forward.”
“Even when you look at CRM and the way it’s been put out; it’s actually going to decrease the number of people who are using the products. The price of the product which is already high is going to go higher in the sense that you have to come and purchase the cylinder before you come and purchase the product. People will not be able to buy the GH₵10 and GH₵20 that they buy now. If you go to the village, how many of them can provide GH₵80 to buy 14kg? Let’s ask ourselves,” he lamented.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, shortly after the Atomic Junction Gas explosion, directed the implementation of the Cylinder Recirculation Module.
This meant that gas cylinders will no longer be filled up at gas retail outlets, but cylinders will be bought from distributors already filled when they go empty.
Apart from concerns over the loss of jobs, the Ghana LPG Operators Association has constantly complained that proper stakeholder consultations were not carried out as they were not engaged on the policy.
It is for this reason that they threatened to sue the government if it failed to reach a consensus with all stakeholders on the module last year.
Even ahead of this, the operators embarked on a strike as part of protests against the government’s decision to implement the policy.
CRM to provide jobs
Meanwhile, in response to the concerns of the gas operators, the National Petroleum Authority has said the Cylinder Recirculation Model would create at least 4500 jobs across the country.
According to the Chief Executive Officer of the NPA, Hassan Tampuli the module when fully introduced would create jobs for distributors and retailers at the various bottling plants.
Two companies, so far have been given licenses to establish and operate LPG bottling plants in different parts of the country although over 20 companies have applied for the licenses.
