The Vice President of policy think tank, IMANI Africa, Bright Simons, has alleged that the Chinese refinery Sentuo Oil has not resolved the issue of supplying regular crude oil without forex liability.
He noted that the company is also still waiting on tax waivers worth $261 million in tax waivers for the government.
Talking of the Tema Oil Refinery, he said the least said the better.
Bright Simons wrote on X: “Sentuo has still not addressed the issue of regular crude supply without forex liability. However, it is hoping the $261 million in tax waivers that govt of Ghana has decided to offer will come through. As for Tema Oil Refinery, the mess has grown a beard.”
A few months ago, the Deputy Energy Minister, John Jinapor, expressed his displeasure with the loading and offloading of petroleum products by the Chinese firm.
According to him, “Why will a Chinese company bring 300 tankers into this country?” He said it is prudent and wise to encourage foreign participation but it is not enough if it affects locals.
Jinapor added, “In as much as you want to do business in Ghana don’t kill our local businesses.”
The Tanker Drivers Union said it would be a threat to their business if Chinese refinery, Sentuo Oil, continues to offload fuel locally.
According to a member of the Union, the drivers will stop the transportation of fuel across the country if the act continues.
He said Ghana’s laws have stipulated that the haulage of petroleum products should be done by Ghanaian companies only, therefore a Chinese firm must not be allowed to offload petroleum products.
Jantuah added that boycotting their business is their last resort if nothing is done about the situation which “will obviously bring shortages of fuel in the country.”
“The moment we deregulated, at the time it was GNPC distributing, the moment we deregulated, it was made that that portion should be given to Ghanaians so if you see, Shell, BP has tankers which do not belong to them but because we pick for them, we paint our tankers with their emblem but they don’t own the tankers.
“So why should the refinery now say that they have their tankers and distributing? Do TOR, NPA, and BDCs have their own tankers? They all depend on us so if you are coming in, you are going to kill our business and we have to fight for it,” he said.
Jantuah said the tanker drivers are currently frustrated over the development since most of them have loans to pay.
SSD/NOQ
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Sentuo Oil Refinery Oil Limited