AOMC urges thorough inspection of Sentuo Oil Refinery amid reports of substandard petroleum products
The Association of Oil Marketing Companies (AOMC) has urged the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) to address issues concerning the quality of some petroleum products supplied by Sentuo Oil Refinery.
This is on the back of widespread apprehension among Oil Marketing Companies regarding the quality and viscosity of Sentuo’s products. Reports indicate that numerous service station pumps have faced challenges dispensing these products efficiently, sparking a wave of customer complaints since February 1, 2024.
Emphasizing the critical importance of reliability and quality in the petroleum industry, the AOMC underscored the potential ramifications of these issues on operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.
“The reported issues at Sentuo Oil Refinery have the potential to not only affect the operational efficiency of oil marketing companies but also negatively impact customer satisfaction”.
“Our members have conducted meticulous inquiries and concluded that no internal malfunctions or procedural errors are to blame for this matter for this matter. Therefore we firmly believe that the root cause of this concern lies with the products supplied by the Sentuo Oil Refinery and BEST Kumasi Depot”, said the AOMC.
On the way forward, the association urged the NPA to conduct a thorough inspection of the company’s refining processes and quality control measures to ensure adherence to industry standards.
It added that there is the need to review complaints received and take appropriate action against the refinery, if necessary to maintain the integrity of the petroleum supply chain.
“Collaborate with oil marketing companies to identify specific areas of concerns and develop strategies to mitigate the impact of the reported issues.”
“Publicly communicate the findings of the investigation and any actions taken to address the situation to enhance transparency and restore confidence in the industry”, the associated appealed to the regulator.
Meanwhile, in response to mounting pressure, the NPA has taken decisive action, suspending approval for certain finished petroleum products supplied by Sentuo Oil Refinery. This measure, targeting petrol products, comes in the wake of allegations by leading energy think tanks, IES and COPEC, accusing Sentuo of selling sub-standard fuel, which reportedly caused damage to vehicle engines.
Ubeidalah Saeed, Head of Quality Control at the NPA, clarified that while the products in question were not inherently unwholesome, they failed to meet required specifications, particularly concerning pressure thresholds.
To address these concerns, Saeed outlined stringent measures, including enhanced monitoring regimes and mandatory counter-testing of quality certificates from Sentuo Oil Refinery.
