COMAC CEO Participates in Plenary Discussion at OTL Africa Downstream Energy Week 2026

The Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC), Dr. Riverson Oppong, delivered a high-level presentation and participated in a plenary discussion at the OTL Africa Downstream Energy Week 2026.

The session, themed “West African Fuels Congress: What’s New and What’s Next?”, examined the evolving dynamics of West Africa’s petroleum market and the reforms required to strengthen supply security, improve product quality, promote transparent pricing and facilitate cross-border petroleum trade.

Drawing on global, regional and Ghanaian industry data, Dr. Oppong highlighted how the 2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis exposed the vulnerabilities of import-dependent petroleum markets. The disruption significantly affected shipping movements, extended supply routes and contributed to upward pressure on Brent crude oil prices.

Against this backdrop, his presentation examined the changing petroleum supply landscape across West Africa, the growing role of regional refining capacity, Ghana’s continued dependence on imported petroleum products, variations in fuel quality and pump prices, and the need for stronger storage infrastructure and product traceability systems.

A West African Fuel Passport: Advancing Regional Product Traceability

One of the key proposals from Dr. Oppong’s presentation was the introduction of a West African Fuel Passport — an ECOWAS-wide digital system designed to certify petroleum products against agreed regional quality standards and track consignments throughout the supply chain.

Under the proposed system, each petroleum cargo or truckload would be digitally traceable from its point of origin, whether a refinery or port, through depots and border crossings to the final retail outlet.

The proposed framework could help address several challenges facing the regional petroleum market, including:

• Reducing unrecorded and unregulated product movements.

• Improving petroleum product quality assurance.

• Strengthening revenue protection and regulatory oversight.

• Enhancing transparency across the petroleum supply chain.

• Facilitating legitimate cross-border petroleum trade among ECOWAS member states.

  
  

The plenary discussion further explored the future of West Africa’s downstream petroleum sector, particularly as new refining capacity, regulatory reforms and changing international trade routes continue to reshape the sourcing, movement and distribution of petroleum products across the region.

For COMAC, participation in the session provided an important platform to bring Ghana’s downstream industry experience into the wider regional conversation and contribute practical perspectives on addressing shared industry challenges.

The Chamber remains committed to supporting regional cooperation, promoting innovation and advocating policies and systems that strengthen supply security, transparency, product quality and operational efficiency.

Through engagements such as OTL Africa Downstream Energy Week 2026, COMAC continues to contribute to conversations shaping the future of Ghana’s petroleum downstream industry and the wider West African energy market.