We have enough fuel in reserves – NPA assures as Middle East war sends oil prices spiraling
The National Petroleum Authority (NPA), has assured that Ghana currently has enough fuel reserves to sustain the country for several weeks as global oil markets brace for the shockwaves of a full-blown military conflict in the Middle East.
According to the NPA, these reserves are “not running out anytime soon” as they were accumulated as part of a deliberate strategy and not a reaction to the current war.
During an appearance on Joy News’ The Probe, on Sunday, NPA Director of Economic Regulation and Planning, Abass Ibrahim Tasunti, revealed that as of Friday February 27, Ghana’s diesel stocks stood at levels that could last over five weeks in the event of a disruption in the global crude supply chain.
“As of last Friday, we have diesel stocks to last us over five weeks. Roughly, it will last us up to 5.3 weeks. And then for petrol, we have almost 6.8 weeks to last,” he stated.
He explained that these reserves were built as part of the NPA’s regular mandate to ensure energy security, adding that the Authority operates a continuous supply pipeline that does not wait for crises to emerge before acting.
“So, we have a plan where almost every day, discharge of petroleum products are being done. That’s for the imported products. And we also have the Sentuo oil refinery, which is consistently producing. It has been doing so since June 2025. And as we speak, they are producing on a daily basis and putting petroleum products on the market,” he assured.
“The Atuabo gas processing plant is also producing and putting LPG on the market. So, in terms of stocks, whilst we consume what is in-tank, we have a plan for import as well,” he added.
Ibrahim Tasunti acknowledged the vulnerability of Ghana’s fuel supply chain, noting that a country that relies heavily on importing petroleum products cannot be entirely cushioned from shocks in global energy markets.
He however maintained that the NPA’s planning strategy is specifically designed to absorb such external shocks, at least in the short to medium term.
The reassurance comes amid a full military action in the Persian Gulf as Iran continues to trade missiles in response to a joint U.S-Israel joint military campaign which started on Saturday.
The Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway through which roughly 20% of the world’s daily oil supply passes, has become a “maritime danger zone.” Reuters reported on Sunday that “ships have been struck by projectiles, GPS jamming has been reported, and Houthi militants have added their own threats to an already volatile corridor.”
Although the Strait has not been formally closed, “vessel tracking data shows commercial traffic has collapsed, with only Iranian and Chinese-flagged tankers continuing to make transits.”
Russia’s foreign ministry raised concern in on Sunday, warning that a full closure of the Strait of Hormuz could cause “significant disbalances” in global energy supply.
About The Author
