The General Manager of Puma Energy Ghana, Mr Myles Bouvier-Baird, has said the country can become the hub for aviation fuel trade if the government collaborates with the private sector to develop infrastructure.
He said reduction in taxes of the product would be an appropriate complement for world-class infrastructure to expand the storage capacity of aviation fuel in the country.
Mr Bouvier-Baird said this when Puma Energy, which took over the assets of UBI Holdings and Blue Ocean Investments, inaugurated an ultra-modern aviation fuel depot at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA), in Accra.
Storage terminal
The facility, which was inaugurated by Puma Energy, which Puma operates in the storage business in partnership with Blue Ocean Investments, is expected to increase the security of fuel supply to aircraft at the KIA.
The company also operates in the retail business through its stake in UBI Petroleum, which it has now branded to Puma Energy Distribution Ghana.
Mr Bouvier-Baird said through the partnership, another two new storage terminals had been built at Tema Ridge and Takoradi for the addition of gasoline to the KIA depot.
According to him, the KIA depot has a storage capacity of 10,750 tonnes and would increase service to aircraft and also serve as a significant boost to the trade and economic growth of the country.
“The increased capacity and security of supply provided by our investments into aviation storage at KIA and Tema Ridge means that Ghana can optimise its positioning as a hub for aviation in West Africa,” he said.
“The same goes for our investments into clean fuel storage at Takoradi, which will be the first depot to store gasoline in Ghana’s Western Region,” he added.
“The new Takoradi Terminal also supports the Ghanaian government’s policy to improve regional fuel supply with the new gasoline or gas oil terminal’s added 32,000 metric tonnes capacity servicing the country,” he said.
According to him, Puma Energy has a reputation for achieving significant economies of scale and operating efficiencies, which translated into competitive costing, managed risk, secured supply and seamless delivery.
Affordable fuel
The Chief Operating Officer of Puma Energy Africa, Mr Christophe Zyde, said Puma Energy sought to build infrastructure and make affordable fuel available to consumers through its growing retail network of over 40 stations.
“Not only does this stipulate economic growth by connecting urban and rural areas, it gets people, goods, trade and industry,” he indicated.
“Local talent is fundamental to Puma Energy’s strategy, as the combination of knowledge and Puma Energy’s entrepreneurial business model will grow into dynamic, accountable businesses with broad benefits,” he added.
Visit to the service station
Meanwhile, officials from Puma Energy together with both foreign and local journalists toured some of the company’s service stations in Accra.
The Retail Manager of Puma Energy Ghana, Mr George Oduro-Koranteng, who conducted the journalists round the Oyarefa Service Station of Puma Energy, said the company had put in place measures to ensure safety at the service station to protect customers and staff.