The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) is set to fully roll out Ghana’s Cylinder Recirculation Model (CRM) in 2026, following board approval of a key cylinder investment margin to support bottling plants nationwide
The Director of Business Development at the NPA, Godwin Yaw Konu, disclosed this at the Africa Extractives Media Fellowship training session in Accra on Wednesday, February 18. He said the Authority’s board has approved the cylinder investment margin to compensate bottling plants and accelerate the nationwide distribution of LPG cylinders.
According to Mr. Konu, the approval will enable bottling plants to scale up operations and increase the number of cylinders available for exchange across the country.
“So soon you should see a lot of rollouts,” he stated, noting that consumers can expect more cylinders at designated exchange points once full deployment begins.
He urged the public to prepare to exchange their cylinders when the nationwide rollout commences.
Pilot Phase Offered Key Lessons
Mr. Konu clarified that the pilot phase of the CRM was not hampered by significant challenges but rather served as a learning period for the Authority and industry players.
“It wasn’t a challenge per se. It was a period for us to understand the various nuances in the rollout,” he explained.
He noted that the initial pilot involved existing refilling plants handling both filling and distribution. A subsequent pilot shifted responsibility to bottling plants to manage filling and distribution directly. Lessons from both approaches, he said, helped the NPA identify operational gaps and address inefficiencies.
With the board’s approval of the investment margin, Mr. Konu expressed confidence that the Authority is ready to proceed with full implementation. Although he did not indicate the specific quarter for the rollout, he confirmed that nationwide deployment will take place in 2026.
“It’s definitely this year in 2026,” he said, adding that final timelines will be coordinated with the Gas Directorate.
Enhancing Safety and Efficiency
Ghana’s Cylinder Recirculation Model is designed to improve safety in the handling and distribution of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) by transitioning from on-site refilling at retail stations to a cylinder exchange system.
Under the model, customers exchange empty cylinders for filled ones at designated outlets, while bottling plants are responsible for inspecting, maintaining, and filling cylinders to meet safety standards.
The initiative aims to reduce accidents at gas filling points, particularly in residential and densely populated areas, and ensure that cylinders are properly maintained before reaching consumers.
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