The Director of Business Development at the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Godwin Yaw Konu, has announced that Ghana’s Cylinder Recirculation Model (CRM) will be fully deployed in 2026 following board approval of a key cylinder investment margin to support bottling plants.
Speaking at the Africa Extractives Media Fellowship training session in Accra, Mr. Konu said the NPA board has approved the margin to compensate bottling plants and accelerate the nationwide rollout of cylinders.
According to him, the approval will enable bottling plants to expand operations and inject more cylinders into the system for public exchange.
“So soon you should see a lot of rollouts,” he said, adding that consumers can expect increased availability of cylinders at designated exchange points once full implementation begins.
Mr. Konu urged consumers to prepare to exchange their cylinders when the nationwide rollout commences.
He clarified that the pilot phase did not encounter major setbacks but rather served as a learning process for the Authority and stakeholders.
“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 managing both filling and distribution, while a more recent phase transferred those responsibilities to bottling plants.
Lessons from both approaches, he said, helped the Authority identify operational gaps and refine the model.
With the board’s approval of the cylinder investment margin, Mr. Konu expressed confidence that the NPA is ready for full implementation. Although he did not indicate the exact quarter for the rollout, he confirmed that deployment will take place this year.
“It’s definitely this year in 2026,” he stated, adding that timelines will be finalised in coordination with the Gas Directorate.
Ghana’s Cylinder Recirculation Model is designed to enhance safety in the handling and distribution of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) by replacing on-site refilling at retail stations with a cylinder exchange system.
Under the model, consumers exchange empty cylinders for filled ones at designated outlets, while bottling plants are responsible for inspection, maintenance, and safe filling.
The initiative is expected to reduce accidents at gas filling points, particularly in residential and densely populated areas, while ensuring that cylinders meet safety standards before reaching consumers.
