Over 500 key players in African downstream oil industry met in Cape Town for Africa Refiners Association (ARA) WEEK which was aimed at achieving clean fuels in Africa.

Among the key players included representatives from NPA namely; Mr. Alhassan S. Tampuli (Chief Executive), Mr. Kwadwo Abbiw Jackson (Director, Legal and Human Resource), Mrs. Esther Anku (Chief Inspector), Mr. Sylvester Inkoom (Refinery Manager) and Joseph Wilson (Research Manager).

Presenting, Mrs Anku, who doubles as Chairman of the ARA Committee said following the workshop organized by UNEP in Abuja, Ghana accelerated the process of revising the sulphur level in fuel to comply with AFRI-4 Specifications. “Sub-regional workshop on sulphur reduction in fuels was held in Ghana from October 31-November 1, 2016” she added.

She stated that a Technical Committee on fuel standards in Ghana has drafted revised standards for both diesel and Gasoline which has been circulated to stakeholders for comments.

Mrs Anku told participants in the revised standards sulphur level in diesel had been reviewed from 3000ppm to 50ppm and Sulphur level in gasoline from 1000ppm to 50ppm effective April 2017.

The Interim President of the ARA, Ibrahim Talba Malla from Cameroon said that “the African downstream oil industry has now identified the challenges facing the African refining and distribution sectors both in terms of meeting the product quality and quantity demanded by our customers, and in terms of how the industry continues to contribute to economic growth.”

Mr. TalbaMalla added: “We are happy that so many African and International experts are coming to Cape Town to network and share experiences with entities active in the local petroleum sector as well as on the international markets.”

The ARA’s AFRI specifications Road Map aims to achieve cleaner fuels to be supplied to African consumers by 2020 so as to help achieve the clean air objectives desired by all.