Star Oil: Cylinder Recirculation or Cylinder Exchange stress

On Saturday, June 4, 2026, I took my 5 kg empty cylinder for exchange at the Agbogba Star Oil Filling station, near the Wisconsin University College, Ghana.

Upon my arrival, the attendant appeared visibly irritated by my request to exchange the cylinder. He told me impatiently that they no longer stocked the 5 kg; when I asked for the supervisor, he curtly responded that he or she was not available; so I wanted to know what I could do with the empty cylinder, he shrugged and left me standing.  

I entered the convenience store to enquire about the matter, but they told me they were not responsible and that the fuel attendants were. In my frustration, I left the cylinder on the premises.

At a time when Star Oil is advertising itself as the most customer-centred fuel marketer, it beats my understanding that this commitment is not shared by businesses such as EaziGas that operate on its premises.

My expectation was for the fuel attendants to give information about what to do; such as: “please try another time”; “the empty 5kg cylinders are all being recalled (under such and such an arrangement)

My questions, however, received just shrugs and blank stares from the attendants, not workable responses.

I believe the Cylinder Recirculation Model under the Ministry of Energy and the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) is gradually being implemented to phase out the direct purchase of gas from bottling plants.

However, if the implementation is going to be this stressful, then Ghanaians will, themselves, troop to bottling plants, regardless of where they are located, eroding the safety principle undergirding the policy.

Please, all the agencies under whose supervision this policy is, should be up and doing, and end their comfort in armchairs in offices.

Caroline Kennedy,
Adentan Municipality.