The prolonged delay in developing an alternative petroleum mooring facility could be adding between GH¢0.47 and GH¢0.60 to the cost of every litre of petroleum product sold in Ghana, the Centre for Environmental Management and Sustainable Energy (CEMSE) has warned.
The policy research organisation says the additional cost is linked to demurrage charges and operational inefficiencies in the country’s petroleum import and discharge chain.
In a statement issued on Thursday, November 5, 2026, CEMSE argued that Ghana’s failure to develop alternative discharge infrastructure over the past decade has contributed to avoidable costs that are ultimately reflected in the prices paid by petroleum consumers.
According to the organisation, the estimated additional cost represents between 2.63% and 3.35% of the retail pump price of petroleum products.
It said: “the implication is that petroleum users would have been paying less and saving at least Ghc0.47 on a liter of petroleum products if the cost of discharging is reduced through additional infrastructure and improved operational efficiency.”
CEMSE attributed the situation partly to Ghana’s dependence on a single major petroleum discharge facility at Tema, which it said handles approximately 75% of petroleum product discharges.
The organisation noted that the country’s petroleum product inflows had increased significantly without a corresponding expansion in mooring infrastructure.
It said product supply rose from 3,528,583 metric tonnes in 2015 to 6,089,046 metric tonnes in 2025, representing an increase of about 73%.
Over the same period, the number of Bulk Oil Distribution and Export Companies (BIDECs) increased from 37 to 53, a rise of approximately 43%.
Despite the growth in demand and the number of industry players, CEMSE said the country had recorded no expansion in mooring infrastructure during the period.
The organisation acknowledged that other discharge facilities and jetties had been developed and continued to support the petroleum industry. However, it argued that their existence did not necessarily mean Ghana had sufficient alternative mooring capacity.
“The development of a dedicated alternative mooring facility would provide additional discharge capacity, diversify infrastructure access, improve operational flexibility and potentially reduce the sector’s exposure to congestion and prolonged vessel waiting times,” it stated.
CEMSE is therefore calling for a review of the existing exclusivity arrangement governing petroleum discharge infrastructure, alongside measures to attract credible private-sector investment.
It also wants alternative discharge infrastructure incorporated into Ghana’s long-term downstream petroleum infrastructure and energy security plans.
