William Owuraku Aidoo (Middle) with some of the participants
The Deputy Minister of Energy, William Owuraku Aidoo has expressed the Ministry’s commitment to support the bunker and shipping industry with favourable policies and regulations given the crucial role played by this sector towards sustaining the development of the African continent.
Speaking at the 5th International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA)’s Africa and Shipping Conference yesterday in Accra, he said the country recognizes the importance of bunking and shipping in its development and the continent as a whole due to its geographic location and rich maritime history.
He said the Ministry will therefore continue to provide the needed support to enable the bunker and shipping sector to thrive as expected.
He said, “The Ministry of Energy recognizes the crucial role that this sector plays not only in the economy, but local and regional forum, therefore we want our local bunking market and that of Africa’s to sustainably grow and I will like to use this opportunity to reaffirm the Ministry of Energy’s commitment and its readiness to support this sector with favourable policies and regulations to position it for a sustainable future.
He stated that, in the contest of advancing a sustainable future for the bunker and shipping business, the Ministry has begun some work with stakeholders particularly public and private sector with a view to promote greater transparency between suppliers and buyers to establish a level playing field for market players in the bunker industry.
This according to him, include considering a policy to create a designated bunker zone outside the Tema and the Takoradi port to regulate and safeguard Ghana’s future petroleum business.
“The Ministry expects the implementation of the proposed bunker zone of Tema and Takoradi ports to take off as collaborative initiative among the Ghana Navy, Ghana National petroleum Authority, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, Maritime Police, Environmental Protection Agency among others,” the minister added.
The initiatives and policies, he believes, will not only reduce the risk of piracy during offshore bunker operations and also improve the work of stakeholders in the shipping industry but would also go a long way to navigate the challenges that confront the bunker and shipping market in Africa.
IBIA Africa Regional Board Chair, Amsol Director and Advisor,Paul Maclons, in his welcome remarks said the conference will offer a unique platform to discuss specific opportunities and challenges affecting the African bunker industry.
He said the conference will also discuss the strategies that would be needed to address the challenges that confront West Africa as a crucial bunkering hub, decarbonisation initiatives that would help sustain the maritime sector.
According to him, West Africa holds a unique position in the bunker industry geographically positioned as crucial bunkering hub, with the responsibility to ensure Africa addresses decarbonisation initiatives, being an integral part of sustainability in the maritime sector.
He also expressed IBIA’s commitment to elevate the industry with a distinctive mark on the global bunker landscape that resonates with excellence, sustainability and innovation.
Some of the topics presented on day two of the conference include pressing issues like the intricacies of the physical supply chain, financing avenues for the marine industry, the frontier of future fuels in bunkering as well as critical concerns related to bunker quality, quantity and the ever evolving regulatory landscape.
The 3-day conference which started on Tuesday September 5, also brought together participants from Denmark, South Africa, Mauritius, Estonia UAE, UK, and African countries such as Liberia, Togo Nigeria Senegal and South Africa.
By Ebenezer K. Amponsah and Lucie Blay