The Director of Business Development at the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Godwin Yaw Konu, has announced that Ghana’s Cylinder Recirculation Model (CRM) is set for full deployment in 2026 following board approval of a key investment margin to support bottling plants.
Speaking at the Africa Extractives Media Fellowship training session in Accra on Wednesday, February 18, Mr Konu said the NPA board has approved a cylinder investment margin to compensate bottling plants and boost the rollout of cylinders across the country.
According to him, the approval will enable bottling plants to scale up operations and push more cylinders into the system for consumers to exchange.
“So soon you should see a lot of rollouts,” he indicated, adding that more cylinders will be available at exchange points once the full deployment begins.
Mr Konu encouraged consumers to prepare to exchange their cylinders when the nationwide rollout commences.
He also clarified that the pilot phase was not plagued by major challenges but rather served as a learning period for the Authority and stakeholders.
“It wasn’t a challenge per se. It was a period for us to understand the various nuances in the rollout,” he said.
He explained that initial pilots involved existing refilling plants handling both filling and distribution. The more recent pilot shifted responsibility to bottling plants to manage filling and distribution directly. Lessons from both approaches, he said, have helped the Authority identify gaps and correct operational errors.
With the board’s approval of the cylinder investment margin, Mr Konu expressed confidence that the NPA is ready to proceed with full implementation.
While he did not specify the exact quarter for the nationwide rollout, he confirmed that the full deployment will take place in 2026.
“It’s definitely this year in 2026,” he stated, adding that final timelines would be coordinated with the Gas Directorate.
Ghana’s Cylinder Recirculation Model is designed to improve safety in the handling and distribution of liquefied petroleum gas by shifting from on-site refilling at retail stations to a cylinder exchange system. Under the model, customers exchange empty cylinders for filled ones at designated points, while bottling plants are responsible for inspecting, maintaining and filling the cylinders to meet safety standards.
The initiative aims to reduce accidents at gas filling points in residential and communal areas while ensuring that cylinders are properly maintained before being handed over to consumers.
