Ghana Gets LPG Tanker and Tema Terminal for Supply

A tanker dedicated to Ghana has made its first cooking-gas delivery, as a new storage terminal opened at the main port.

Ghana LPG supply has gained a dedicated tanker and new storage at Tema, the country’s main port. The MT Asharami Ghana delivered about 5,000 tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas on its maiden voyage, Ghana News Agency reported.

Ghana is a West African country of about 35 million people and a major gold and cocoa producer. Many homes still cook with charcoal or wood, and the government wants half of all households on gas by 2030.

A ceremony at Tema on 29 September

The vessel’s arrival was marked at the Tema Oil Jetty on Tuesday 29 September, the Daily Graphic reported. Energy Minister John Abdulai Jinapor led the government delegation.

Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe, chief executive of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), the downstream fuel regulator, also attended. Executives of Sahara Group and its local arm, Asharami Ghana, hosted the event.

The arrival “represents a significant step forward in our quest to expand access to cleaner energy solutions for Ghanaians,” Mr Jinapor said.

He added that the government could not reach its energy-transition goals alone. He praised Sahara Group for supporting Ghana’s energy security over the years.

A new 6,000-tonne storage terminal

The same week, Mr Jinapor commissioned a 6,000-tonne LPG storage terminal built by Asharami Ghana, Citi Newsroom reported. Its first cargo came from the new tanker.

The minister called such investments critical to cleaner cooking, energy security and a more resilient supply chain. In March, Sahara had said the first phase would be finished in May 2026.

That first phase is half of a planned 12,000-tonne land terminal in Tema, according to the company. No date has been given for the second half.

What the ship is

The MT Asharami Ghana is a dual-fuel, refrigerated carrier with 40,000 cubic metres of capacity. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries built it in South Korea.

President John Dramani Mahama commissioned the ship in Ulsan, South Korea, on Thursday 12 March 2026, during a working visit. Ghana News Agency and THISDAY, a Nigerian daily, both reported the ceremony.

Sahara Group, a Lagos-based energy company, says the ship adds 25,000 tonnes of stock security for Ghana. It says its LPG fleet now counts six delivered carriers with 202,000 cubic metres of capacity.

The company also says a further 270,000 cubic metres is under construction for delivery by September 2028. Its named partners include WAGL Energy and NNPC Limited, Nigeria’s state oil company.

These fleet figures come from Sahara and could not be independently confirmed.

Why imports matter

Imported LPG covered about 70% of Ghana’s monthly consumption, the NPA said in 2024. Ghana National Gas Company, which processes local offshore gas, supplied the rest.

Heavy reliance on imports leaves supply exposed to shipping delays and freight costs. A tanker dedicated to one market gives importers more control over timing than chartering ships on the spot market.

Demand matters beyond Ghana’s borders too. Sahara says it wants Tema to serve neighbouring and landlocked West African markets as well.

The 2030 clean-cooking target

Ghana wants 50% of households to use LPG by 2030, up from about 30% today. Wider use would cut smoke from wood and charcoal stoves.

Ships and tanks alone will not reach that target. Gas must also reach small towns in cylinders that families can afford and refill safely.

In March, policy analyst Bright Simons questioned whether the ship fixed deeper gaps in Ghana’s gas policy, Citi Newsroom reported.

What to watch next

The first test is how often the tanker returns to Tema. Sahara says the maiden cargo is the first of several voyages, but no schedule has been published.

The second is whether retail cooking-gas prices or shortages change. No official estimate of any effect on prices has been published.

Finally, watch for a date for the terminal’s second 6,000-tonne phase. Steady Ghana LPG supply will depend on storage on land as much as on ships at sea.

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