- CRM expected to create over 4,500 jobs
The National Petroleum Authority (NPA), has issued licenses to six LPG bottling plants to enable them produce for government’s upcoming cylinder recirculation model (CRM) project.
The NPA has also indicated that it will assist indigenous companies to access financial assistance from banks and other institutions to set up LPG bottling plants across the country to drive the initiative.
At the 2019 first stakeholder engagement meeting on the initiative in Accra, a Chief Inspector at the NPA, Esther Anku, explained that the move is to encourage local companies to venture into cylinder manufacturing for the project.
“Six licenses have so far been issued to LPG bottling plants and we hope to give more” she said.
The NPA has, however maintained that LPG marketing companies may charge fees for cylinders when the recirculation project becomes fully operational.
Though this may be worrying news to the general public, the authority assured that the fee will have no effect on the public.
Meanwhile, NPA’s CEO, Mr. Alhassan Tampuli underscored government’s resolve to ensure that the policy kick starts to facilitate an increase in access to LPG usage in a safe and efficient manner.
Instructively, the initiative is expected to help achieve a policy goal of 50 percent access to safe, clean and environmentally friendly LPG for domestic, commercial and industrial usage by 2030 from the current 25 percent.
It is estimated that the CRM will create over 4,500 new jobs under the actors of the new value chain and door to door delivery service. This will not affect current jobs of LPG Bulk Transporters, LPG Bulk Distribution Companies, and LPG Bulk Storage Companies.
The NPA according to Mr. Tampuli, will also recruit over 200 safety auditors throughout the country as well as additional resource persons for the authority’s newly established health and safety department.
About 13,000 Ghanaians are estimated to die from air pollution and environmental risks each year, with a chunk of the number attributed to smoke from firewood stoves.
The Second Lady, Samira Bawumia, encouraged the public to use LPG in order to ensure efficiency in cooking.
By Wisdom Jonny-Nuekpe