Puma Energy, a global mid and downstream energy company operating in 47 countries across five continents, through Blue Ocean Investments, has built three new storage terminals at Kotoka International Airport (KIA), Tema Ridge and Takoradi.
“The increased capacity and security of supply provided by our investments into aviation storage at KIA and Tema Ridge means that Ghana can optimise its positioning as a hub for aviation in West Africa,” Myles Bouvier-Baird, General Manager for Puma Energy in Ghana made this statement at the commissioning of the KIA storage facility.
The KIA aviation fuel depot has added storage capacity of 10,000m³ to the existing 750m³ depot. This increased security of supply at the airport has positioned Accra’s KIA as a contender for major airlines using it as a hub for the West Africa sub-region, he noted.
“The same goes for our investments into clean fuel storage at our Takoradi Terminal, which will be the first depot to store gasoline in Ghana’s Western Region.”
Mr. Bouvier-Baird was emphatic that the increased air traffic adds a significant boost to the country’s potential for trade and economic growth.
“And with the Tema Ridge depot, the further 15,000m³ of storage of aviation fuel improves efficiency, reinforces security of supply and aids improved planning for the entire market”, he said.
While the new Takoradi Terminal supports the Ghanaian government’s policy to improve regional fuel supply with the new gasoline / gas oil terminal’s added 32,000m³ capacity servicing the west of the country. This reduces the need for thousands of trucks to deliver to the region from Tema, according to the Puma Energy manager.
Earlier, speaking to journalists at the opening of Puma Energy Ghana office complex located at Air Port City in Accra, Christophe Zyde, Chief Operating Officer for Puma Energy Africa explained: “Puma Energy seeks to build infrastructure and make affordable fuel available to consumers through its growing retail network of over 40 stations.
Not only does this stimulate economic growth by connecting urban and rural areas; it gets people, goods, trade and industry moving”.
With a focus on integrated midstream and downstream activities, Puma Energy has a reputation for achieving significant economies of scale and operating efficiencies, which translates into competitive costing, managed risk, secured supply and seamless delivery, he added.
Local talent is fundamental to Puma Energy’s strategy, as the combination of knowledge and Puma Energy’s entrepreneurial business model will grow into dynamic, accountable businesses with broad benefits. To date, Puma Energy directly employs 162 people in Ghana with 94% of these employees being local, Mr Zyde revealed.
Puma Energy entered onto the Ghanaian energy industry this week following its partnership with Blue Ocean Investments for the storage business and UBI Petroleum, now Puma Energy Distribution Ghana. On the retail side, the company aims to deliver quality and affordable fuel to Ghana.
“Puma Energy links local demand with international supply, through investment in infrastructure,” Mr Zyde, explained.
“In Ghana, we have built partnerships with local players – Blue Ocean Investments and UBI Petroleum – in order to increase the fuel storage capacity of Ghana and to bring efficiencies and enhance economic growth.”
Puma Energy has been supporting Ghana’s fuel industry for close to 10 years through the construction and operation of the CBM import system. This system has been consistently available and is used to import all crude and most fuel products into Ghana, according to Zyde.
African Eye Report
