Rabiu Umar Advocates for Harmonized Fuel Standards in West Africa

West African petroleum regulatory agencies are pursuing broader partnerships to establish harmonized fuel quality standards, improve infrastructure, and enhance regulatory coordination to facilitate cross-border trade. Rabiu Umar, Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), spoke at the 20th OTL Africa Downstream Energy Week in Lagos, highlighting the challenges posed by differing fuel specifications across countries, such as the disparity between diesel specifications of 50 parts per million (ppm) and 1,500 ppm.

He advocated for common product specifications and coordinated production rules to promote trade and competition. Godwin Tameklo, CEO of Ghana’s National Petroleum Authority, noted that inadequate infrastructure, particularly at Ghana’s ports, hampers regional trade.

Musa Njie, Director of Water, Petroleum and Electricity at The Gambia’s Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, stressed the importance of laboratory facilities for testing petroleum quality and called for stronger coordination between regional frameworks and national regulatory institutions. The discussions underscored the need for alignment in fuel specifications and improved enforcement systems.