By: OrePulse

Ghana's National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has pledged continued regulatory backing for Puma Energy's expansion in the country's liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) sector, following a courtesy visit in which the company outlined new investment plans, the NPA said.

During the visit, Puma Energy Ghana General Manager Lanzeni Coulibaly introduced Pumagas, a subsidiary of Puma Energy, to NPA Chief Executive Officer Godwin Kudzo Tameklo and presented newly branded liquefied petroleum gas cylinders. The subsidiary said it would split its manufacturing and delivery operations into distinct units, a step aimed at improving efficiency and expanding its market footprint. Pumagas also reaffirmed its commitment to continued investment in Ghana's Cylinder Recirculation Model, a national program under which LPG cylinders are exchanged rather than individually refilled, as well as in its other LPG initiatives.

Tameklo told the delegation that regulatory oversight should support business growth rather than obstruct investment. "Regulation should facilitate the growth and development of businesses while safeguarding the public interest, rather than becoming an unnecessary impediment to investment," he said.

Tameklo said the relationship between regulator and industry rests on fairness, mutual respect and trust, and argued that Ghana's downstream fuel sector draws investment in part because its rules are applied evenhandedly. He said conduct that could damage Ghana's standing among investors would not be tolerated. "Maintaining investor confidence is a shared responsibility involving both regulators and industry participants," Tameklo said.

Representatives of the NPA and Puma Energy reaffirmed their commitment to working together in support of the growth of Ghana's LPG industry, according to the NPA. The meeting comes as Ghana continues to expand the Cylinder Recirculation Model, the framework through which LPG marketing companies distribute and exchange branded gas cylinders across the country as part of efforts to widen access to the fuel. Neither side disclosed a monetary value or timeline for the investment plans discussed during the visit.