The Akufo-Addo government will from July 1 introduce a new policy on the sulphur content of fuel products.
“The sulphur content in our fuel will be reduced from 3000ppm (parts per million) to 50 ppm,” the Vice President disclosed at Joy News' 100 Days Town Hall, Monday.
Dr Mahamudu Bawumia said this will reduce respiratory diseases triggered by fuel products with high sulphur content.
In the European Union, the “Euro IV” standard has applied since 2005, which specifies a maximum of 50 ppm of sulphur in diesel fuel for most vehicles. Ultra-low-sulphur diesel with a maximum of 10 ppm of sulphur has been widely available as of 2008.
A global report has uncovered the flooding of Ghana’s market with toxic fuel that is threatening lives and destroying cars.
According to the report, the fuel imported into Ghana, mainly diesel, is seriously toxic sometimes containing sulphur levels 2000 times more than the standards accepted in the EU and the USA.
This has been blamed for respiratory illnesses and car malfunctioning in the country.
The Chief Executive Officer of Chamber of Bulk Oil Distribution Companies (BDCs), Senyo Hosi, had argued that it is a matter of cost.
Senyo Hosi said if Ghanaians don’t want to pay 10ppm price for fuel, they should expect to be supplied with what they can afford.
Following a BBC report that said the quality of diesel shipped into Africa is toxic and of low quality due to the excessive sulphur content, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) promised to revise the national sulphur specification for diesel.
The NPA said it will revise it from a maximum 3000ppm to 500ppm effective January 2017 in consonance with the call for "cleaner air" by consumers.
The Vice President said Ghana will be "at the same level as the Western or East African countries in this regard. I think this is a major policy for us as far as the environment and controlling the toxins are concerned."
In a related development, he said the new policy in the energy sector will focus on renewable energy so the country will not accept any thermal energy purchase agreement.
"If you don't have renewable energy to produce, don't come to Ghana, you have to go elsewhere," he sounded a word of caution.
Watch the video below
Latest Stories
-
If I speak there will be fire – Salah on Klopp row
7 mins -
Grieving after divorce is normal, but this particular kind of grief isn’t
12 mins -
10 beautifully unexpected ways husbands proposed to their wives
15 mins -
Reality zone with Vicky Wireko: Painting Ghana purple: Be aware, May is month of mental health awareness
20 mins -
Prof Opoku-Agyemang’s integrity is admirable – Inusah Fuseini
34 mins -
Your reign has been a beacon of wisdom – Alan Kyerematen tells Asantehene
35 mins -
Akufo-Addo’s driver wins La Dadekotopon NPP primary
37 mins -
Education Minister must channel resources to rebrand basic public schools into tackling critical needs – Minority
40 mins -
CAFCC: “Dreams need to score early to unsettle Zamalek” – Former Zamalek striker Felix Aboagye
2 hours -
GHS launches mobile app to counter misinformation about vaccines
2 hours -
Election 2024: Care Ghana warns EC of recruiting political actors as Returning Officers
2 hours -
Mohammed Kudus gets 5th Premier League assist as West Ham hold Liverpool
2 hours -
Religious support source of my success – Asantehene
3 hours -
Sierra Leone energy minister resigns over electricity crisis, as power returns to capital
3 hours -
EC accuses Bright Simons, IMANI Africa of peddling falsehood
3 hours