Ghana’s aviation sector is bracing for disruptions as energy supply challenges threaten the availability of aviation fuel at Kotoka International Airport (KIA).
Airlines have been urged to make advance refuelling arrangements with their fuel service providers as the country grapples with an impending shortfall in Jet A1 fuel. The caution follows growing concern over constrained supply from providers operating under the Joint User Hydrant Installation (JUHI) system at the airport.
The energy supply crunch has led to the indefinite suspension of aviation fuel dispensing services by the airport’s two main suppliers TotalEnergies and Shell. This affects both scheduled and spot refuelling operations, raising the risk of flight delays and operational bottlenecks.
Sources within the downstream petroleum industry attribute the shortage to broader logistical and importation issues within the aviation fuel supply chain, which is tightly regulated and heavily reliant on stable foreign exchange and refined product imports.
While the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) is yet to release an official statement, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) the regulator responsible for fuel supply and distribution is reportedly engaging with industry stakeholders to resolve the issue.
The situation underscores the vulnerability of Ghana’s aviation and transport infrastructure to disruptions in the energy sector, particularly within specialised fuel markets. Analysts warn that unless swift and coordinated action is taken, the shortage could escalate, affecting air connectivity and economic activity.
Airlines have been advised to liaise proactively with fuel handlers ahead of arrivals to avoid operational setbacks, even as authorities work to stabilise supply in the days ahead.