Shell Ghana is exciting the Ghanaian petroleum market and automobile industry with its V-Power unleaded fuel.

The V-Power premium gasoline is said to contain more than five times the amount of cleaning agents required by international standards and can clean up deposits on intake valves and fuel injectors for high level engine performance.

The obvious benefit of using the V-Power, according to Mr. Andreas Schafer of Shell Global Solutions who took petroleum dealers, automobile companies and petroleum industry regulators through Shell’s three-year research journey into the product, its active cleaning power always leaves the engine fresh to perform.

The occasion was the launch of the product by the Minister of Roads and Harbours, Professor Ameyaw-Akumfi at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel on Thursday.

Government excited

	Members of the National Petroleum Authority Board at the launch.

Professor Ameyaw-Akumfi said the launching of the V-Power signified not only an indication of the vibrancy of the private sector in the development of Ghana, but also a significant milestone which recognizes the fulfillment of the needs and demands of a significant proportion of the motoring public.

“As we are all aware, one of the keys to socio-economic development of a country is the provision of an efficient and effective transportation system, to effectively mobilize and facilitate the commercial and industrial growth of the economy.

“It has been proven that a nation's development is closely tied to the quality of the transportation system, and in this era of the Golden Age of business, it is clear that without a good and dependable transportation framework, it would be extremely difficult, and inordinately costly for businesses to receive inputs to production facilities and to transport finished goods to market in an efficient manner, with it's consequent effect on productivity and output.”

Professor Ameyaw-Akumfi said the provision of transport infrastructure remained an important item on Government's agenda for the nation and had invested heavily in the sector.

Government also intends to continue in that vein “as a commitment to providing the enabling environment for accelerated development.”

He said so far about 14 Development Partners were working with Government to implement a Road Sector Development Programme (RSDP) which commenced in 2002 and will end in December, 2007 with a total investment outlay of US$1.2 billion.
Professor Ameyaw-Akumfi said in spite of government’s efforts, it had no doubt that the engine for growth is really the private sector, expressing happiness at the efforts of oil marketing companies in partnering government with significant investments in the physical infrastructure, technological innovations and impressive networks of fuel stations and outlets.

He said to ensure smooth and safe motoring the government has placed great emphasis on strategic investment in the Road transport sector, with significant extension of the road network, improvement in licensing processes and vehicle roadworthiness certification.
“Our government deems it especially important for all of us to embrace what can be called sustainable mobility. It is therefore gratifying to note that Shell Ghana Ltd. has recognized the need for us to operate in a sustainable manner because it is vital for the future of their business, the industry and the country as a whole.”

Professor Ameyaw Akumfi said as trailblazers in the search for more efficient, powerful and environmentally friendly fuels, government welcomes the innovation by Shell, and “encourage all and sundry to aspire to the same ideals that would carry us forward in a sustainable manner in the future. A major step has been taken, and as the years go by we hope to see a whole range of new technologies, new fuel types and new vehicles. Those developments, I trust, will give energy producers new business opportunities as they respond to growing customer demand for more advanced fuels. Those developments will also go a long way to help the industry meet modern society's demands to mitigate the effect of those fuels on the environment.”

The company announced it was beginning dispensing the product from an initial 23 outlets in Accra, Tema and Kumasi while it rolls out a nationwide service thereafter.

It said the V-Power fuel is suitable for all vehicles and can be used alternatively with existing petrol fuels on the market, however it made a strong case for refueling with V-Power once it is started to ensure maximised benefits, which also include anticorrosion additive to protect metallic engine parts from rust and high octane, metals free unleaded base fuel.