Accra: The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has issued urgent safety directives requiring all fuel station operators in flood-affected areas to immediately suspend operations as heavy rains continue to disrupt parts of the country.
According to Ghana Web, the Authority has directed Oil Marketing Companies, dealers, transporters, and the general public to halt all fuel dispensing, loading, and offloading activities immediately where floodwater has entered forecourts, tank areas, or key fuel storage points. Operators are instructed to cease operations if floodwater has inundated critical areas such as the forecourt, tank manholes, fill points, or vent pipes.
The NPA has also mandated operators to safely disconnect power supply and isolate dispensers and equipment to prevent potential ignition risks. Power to fuel dispensers, canopy lighting, pumps, and other forecourt equipment must be cut using the main isolation switch, provided it is safe to do so.
Furthermore, the NPA has ordered the evacuation of staff, customers, and vehicles from affected stations, establishing a safety exclusion zone of at least 100 meters. The Authority has also emphasized the elimination of ignition sources by prohibiting smoking, naked flames, welding, and the use of spark-producing equipment within the exclusion zone.
Operators are required to report incidents to regulatory and emergency agencies, including the NPA, Ghana National Fire Service, and the Environmental Protection Agency. The NPA has stressed that operations cannot resume until floodwaters recede and joint safety inspections are conducted by regulators and emergency services, ensuring the clearance of underground tanks, pipelines, and fuel systems.
Selling contaminated fuel has been identified as a regulatory breach that will incur severe sanctions. The public is advised to avoid flooded fuel stations and contact with floodwater, which may contain petroleum products or other hazardous substances. The NPA has urged the public to report fuel leaks, unusual petroleum odors, or visible fuel contamination to emergency services and assured that nationwide compliance inspections will be carried out.
Any station found operating without clearance will face suspension, sanctions, or prosecution, as the NPA continues to enforce strict safety measures to mitigate risks associated with the ongoing flooding.