National Petroleum Authority to Introduce Cylinder Recirculation Model (CRM) Programme
The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) is gearing up to launch the Cylinder Recirculation Model (CRM) Programme in September of this year. Perry Okudzeto, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Authority, revealed that the CRM will enable residents of Accra and selected areas to use Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) without owning a cylinder.
Under the CRM, filled LPG cylinders will be available at exchange points, and customers can pick them up after payment and registration using their National Identity Card. The NPA, along with its partners and the Ministry of Energy’s supervision, will spearhead the implementation of the CRM.
Initially, the programme will be launched in Accra and Kumasi, gradually expanding across the country. It will run alongside the current distribution model until eventually phased out. A 50-member committee is working on the CRM, with representation from LPG Marketing Companies, ensuring that their valuable insights are incorporated into the framework.
The primary goal of the CRM is to ensure that at least 50% of Ghanaians have access to safe, clean, and eco-friendly LPG by 2030. It also aims to enhance LPG accessibility, safety in distribution, and increase LPG adoption while reducing incidents related to human errors at gas filling stations.
According to Mr. Okudzeto, cylinders will be procured from manufacturing companies and filled at Bottling Plants before being transported in bulk to exchange depots. From there, specialized trucks will transport the filled cylinders to retail stations or exchange points, where customers can exchange their empty cylinders for filled ones.
Registration with the Ghana card at exchange points is essential for consumer data traceability. The CRM programme has undergone successful piloting in several regions, shaping the framework for its full-scale implementation.
The readiness of CRM Bottling facilities, such as GOIL Bottling Plant in Tema and Kumasi, and Blue Ocean and Newgas facilities, along with cylinder manufacturing companies like APPEB Cylinder Manufacturing Company, SIGMA Cylinder Manufacturing Company, and Ghana Cylinder Manufacturing Company, indicates the solid preparations for the programme’s launch.
With the construction of bottling plants and a robust infrastructure in place, the safe and efficient delivery and use of LPG across operational areas are assured under the CRM programme.
