NPA begins to regulate bitumen

The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) is beginning to regulate bitumen, which is particularly used in the road construction sector in the country.

The move aims to ensure that services using bitumen receive the standard materials required.

NPA President and CEO Hbadan Tampuli said he introduced the Brookfield viscometer to the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) at a brief event in Accra on Monday.

The equipment, which responded to a request to strengthen enforcement of the bitumen regulations, will reduce the testing time of asphalt samples from the Western Region and ensure that substandard products are not not allowed on the market.

Mr. Tampuli said this initiative would also streamline the operations of asphalt distributors and allow the NPA to begin the process of regulating bitumen consumption.

"With this addition to the two laboratories already present in Accra, the Takoradi laboratory does not need to come to Accra to perform the standard test … we are certain that only a quality bitumen product will be imported into the country. country, "he said.

The CEO of NPA said that the licensing framework for the regulation of imported bitumen in the country had been developed and was under revision.

Upon receiving the material, Mr. Ernest K Arthur, President and CEO of GHA, thanked the NPA for helping his team use the equipment.

"We hope that this kind gesture will allow closer collaboration between the two established regulatory institutions to ensure that the quality of the bitumen imported into the country conforms to the specifications of the Ministry of Roads, so that we have sustainable roads throughout the country. country, "he said. I said.

He recalled that in April 2017, the NPA committee set up to streamline the activities of asphalt distributors in the country and had identified the quality of bitumen processing delays in the sector.

Dr. Francis Acheampong, Chairman of the GHA Board of Directors and Chair of the Asphalt Committee, Nana Akwanuasa of the Multinational Bitumen Corporation, was also present at the ceremony.

Context

In 2014, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) conducted a study to determine supply chain practices along the bitumen supply chain.

This was to allow the NPA to obtain sufficient data on the bitumen industry to be able to effectively regulate policies in order to improve the efficiency of the industry.

Subsequently, a stakeholder meeting of asphalt importers was held to discuss ways to improve the bitumen supply chain.

A committee has been formed to undertake a thorough review of the bitumen supply chain to ensure compliance with best practices and the downstream petroleum supply chain.

Committee members included representatives from Total Ghana, Vivo Energy, Ghana Highway Authority (GHA), Platinum Seal, Multinational Bitumen Corporation (SMB), Gbewaa Petrochemicals and NPA.