BOSTenergies has assured Ghanaians that there is no imminent fuel shortage in the country, dismissing suggestions that its reduction in fuel exports to Burkina Faso and Mali is linked to concerns over domestic supply security.
In a statement issued on Thursday, September 17, 2026, the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company (BOST) said the reduction in regional export volumes is largely due to the ongoing revamp of its northernmost depot in Bolgatanga, amid international market fluctuations.
“For the avoidance of doubt and in the interest of accuracy, BOSTenergies wishes to correct an inaccurate implication carried by the published report that the reduction in regional export volumes reflects an imminent fuel shortage in Ghana, warranting the rationing of available supply to Burkina Faso and Mali to safeguard local supply security. There is no imminent fuel shortage in Ghana, and no cutting of supply has been implemented on this and any other basis,” the statement read.
“The observed reduction in regional export volumes from BOSTenergies to Burkina Faso and Mali, amidst the international market fluctuations, is largely owed to the ongoing revamp of its northernmost depot in Bolgatanga: BOSTenergies’ designated gateway into the Sahelian market,” the statement added.
The Controversy
The clarification follows media reports citing comments by BOST Managing Director Afetsi Awoonor at an energy conference in Bangkok on September 16, where he disclosed that the company had cut diesel and gasoline exports to the two neighbouring countries since August.
According to Awoonor, Burkina Faso requested 80,000 metric tons of fuel for July and August, but BOST supplied only about half — roughly 40,000 metric tons. Mali received 10,000 metric tons over the same period, though it had sought an additional 40,000 metric tons for August and September.
Awoonor told Reuters that supply was available but costly, noting that stronger demand had strained supplies and complicated efforts to keep domestic prices stable.
The report triggered public concern about Ghana’s own fuel security, prompting BOST’s decision to issue a formal clarification.
Bolgatanga Depot Under Rehabilitation
According to BOST, the Bolgatanga depot is currently undergoing rehabilitation and is nearing completion. The depot, which has a total storage capacity of 46,500 cubic meters with five tanks for gasoil and two for petrol, serves as BOST’s strategic export gateway into the Sahelian market.
Originally established as a strategic fuel storage, distribution and export hub, the Bolgatanga depot serves Ghana’s northern corridor and neighbouring landlocked countries, including Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. Beyond its regional significance, the facility has also helped ensure a reliable fuel supply to northern Ghana while reducing the movement of fuel tankers from the southern parts of the country.
The depot’s limited activity in recent months had sparked concern among local businesses and residents who rely on its operations for their livelihoods, with some fuel station operators and tanker owners reportedly preferring to lift petroleum products from Accra instead.
Interim Supply Arrangements
BOST said regional fuel supplies to Burkina Faso and Mali have been sustained in the interim through Bulk Road Vehicles transporting products from its coastal depot in Tema.
Under normal operating conditions, BOST moves fuel to the regional market through an integrated network of pipelines and barges connecting its depots from southern Ghana to the north. The arrangement allows the company to supply neighbouring markets at competitive prices while meeting its required profit margins.
“Full regional supply capacity will be restored on completion of the Bolgatanga depot revamp,” the statement said.
No Political, Security or Diplomatic Considerations
BOST also rejected any suggestion that political, security or diplomatic considerations influenced the reduction in exports.
“No political, security, or diplomatic consideration played any role in this decision,” the company stated.
BOST said it remains committed to supporting regional fuel security and is working with government and regional partners to expedite completion of the Bolgatanga depot.
NPA Confirms Six Weeks of Reserves
The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has separately confirmed that Ghana has enough petroleum products in stock to meet domestic demand for at least six weeks, even as global fuel supplies come under pressure.
NPA Chief Executive Officer Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe said on JoyNews that the country is not currently facing a supply crisis and does not expect one in the coming month. “Currently, we have not less than six weeks of cover. Not less,” he said.
Tamakloe noted that the supply buffer is being supported by several vessels carrying petroleum products currently on the high seas and expected to add to Ghana’s stocks. He identified fuel pricing rather than availability as his main concern, with the latest price adjustment pushing the NPA’s floor price for petrol to GH¢16 per litre and diesel to GH¢16.77 per litre, effective September 16.
Tamakloe also pointed to Nigeria’s Dangote Refinery as an additional development that could support petroleum supply in the West African market. The 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery has stepped up gasoline exports across Africa as disruptions to energy flows due to the Iran conflict squeeze traditional fuel supply routes, curbing the cheap imports that long dominated West African markets.
BOST’s Role in Ghana’s Energy Security
Established in December 1993, BOST was created to secure Ghana’s petroleum logistics, with a mandate to develop a network of storage tanks, pipelines and other bulk transportation infrastructure throughout the country and to keep strategic reserve stocks for Ghana.
The company operates a nationwide network of strategically located dep
415,000 cubic meters, including the Accra PlainsB depot (215,000 cubic metersOST), Kumasi depot reb (87,000 cubic meters), Buipe depot (50,000 cubic meters) and Bolgatanga depot (46,500 cubic meters). randed to BOSTenergies in 2025, signalling a commitment to sustainability and alignment with Ghana’s energy transition goals.
Regional Context
Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger are landlocked nations that rely heavily on fuel imports from coastal West African states, including Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire. Petroleum products must enter through ports in coastal countries before being transported overland into the Sahel.
For Mali, about 57 per cent of fuel imports come through Côte d’Ivoire, and fuel convoys on the main southern supply corridor have repeatedly come under attack.
The three Sahelian states are all under military rule and are battling Islamist insurgencies linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State affiliates, adding to the complexity of regional fuel supply arrangements.
BOST’s clarification is expected to ease concerns among Ghanaian consumers and industry stakeholders, though the company faces pressure to complete the Bolgatanga depot revamp swiftly to restore full regional supply capacity and maintain its competitive position in the Sahelian fuel market.
