Energy Minister Convenes Stakeholders to Tackle Laycan Bottlenecks and Advance Downstream Reforms

Ghana’s Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Hon. John Abdulai Jinapor, has taken decisive steps to address persistent challenges in laycan management and to accelerate downstream sector reforms. In a high-level stakeholder engagement held in June 2025, the Minister met with senior representatives from the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), COMAC, the Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors (CBOD), Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company (BOST), COPEC, and other key industry stakeholders.

The meeting centered on the optimization of laycan periods - the critical scheduling window for vessel loading and unloading at Ghana’s ports. Inefficiencies in laycan coordination have long contributed to product delivery delays and increased costs along the petroleum supply chain.

Minister Jinapor called for strengthened coordination and strict adherence to laycan schedules, stressing the importance of predictable and transparent logistics management across the sector. “As Minister, I take full responsibility for the challenges associated with the laycan,” he told attendees, pledging to issue a roadmap to address the issue head-on. “I do not want to engage in any blame games. I’ve spoken to some of you and I appreciate the challenges. You have my commitment.”

Beyond laycan optimization, the discussion broadened to encompass Ghana’s broader downstream reform agenda. Minister Jinapor outlined plans to modernize petroleum infrastructure and improve national energy resilience. Chief among the proposed interventions is the construction of a new mooring system to expand capacity and reduce bottlenecks at critical discharge points.

The stakeholder meeting marks a significant step in the Ministry’s drive to build a more transparent, accountable, and efficient downstream petroleum architecture - one that is aligned with the evolving needs of both industry players and Ghanaian consumers.

As the sector faces increasing pressure to deliver efficiency and affordability amid global volatility, the Energy Ministry’s commitment to collaborative reform sends a clear signal: Ghana is serious about strengthening its petroleum value chain from port to pump.