As a way of ensuring long term investment and sustainability, Member of parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Sam Nartey George is asking lubricants manufacturer, Petro-Canada to set up a plant in Ghana.
According to him, the country provides Petro-Canada a launchpad into the African market which has enormous potential.
Sam George was speaking at the opening of the Dutylex and Petro-Canada’s second terminal at Tema Community 25.
“I’m excited you’re here but this will be peak if you didn’t just bring your products to be sold here but if you set up manufacturing plant here to service the whole of Africa”.
“Importing it is one thing and manufacturing is another. We’ve got the raw material here and I will be interested to see how well we can turn Ghana and specifically Ningo-Prampram into a manufacturing hub considering long term impact,” he suggested.
The journey of Dutylex Oil started five years ago when the Chief Executive Officer of the company, Peter Quarm who has an oil and gas background was posted to Iraq.
There he saw a country trying to rebuild itself after being torn apart by war, giving him an idea of what he could do to help build Ghana.
Five years down the line, Dutylex Oil and Petro-Canada’s partnership is said to be worth the journey having served clients in energy, mines, food and beverages, manufacturing but to mention a few.
In a video message, Vice President of Lubricants and Specialties at Petro-Canada, Matt Joyce highlighted the importance of Dutylex in getting the products to consumers and the experience of Peter Quarm in the partnership on the continent.
“Our products have logged millions of hours of uptime in the toughest mining industry condition and powered trucks millions of miles globally. Dutylex is focused on the mining industry with our leading products”.
“And the high levels of service and market knowledge that Dutylex provides have been vital in building the brand across Africa”.
Senior Sales Manager of Petro-Canada for UK, West, South and Central Africa, Sam Acquaye is happy the partnership is growing.
“ It’s all about right lubrication. The partnership will help in educating people, letting people make right choices when it comes to lubricants and expanding it is for our common good”.
“For us, it’s just about getting the products close to the market. We know how challenging it will be getting the products in every corner in Africa but we’re confident that Dutylex with right partnerships and business, we can work together,” he explained.
On establishing a plant in Ghana to serve Africa, Sam Acquaye maintained that it will depend on demand.
The Chief Executive Officer of Dutylex Oil, Peter Quarm pointed out that local content matters a lot to the company.
“Our intention is to first build a solid base as we bring in the products from abroad. Dutylex’s long term goal is to blend in country, employ and bringing in the needed expertise into the country,” he shared.
Through the partnership, Dutylex Oil is to supply West Africa, Central and East Africa with Petro-Canada’s lubricants.
Meanwhile, Chief Operating Officer and National Sales manager for Dutylex, Ebenezer Laryea Jnr. shared how companies are cutting cost and obtaining efficiency.
“Very soon we will have full accreditation to represent Petro-Canada throughout Africa. Having set up our Tarkwa terminal to take care of the mines, we saw the need to open this one to serve the industries in and around Tema with quality lubricants”
“We are impacting bottom lines. Lubricant is among top three items for manufacturing companies’ budget and being able to help them cut cost is worthy of mention and want everybody to be part of this journey despite the market dynamics in Africa,” he urged.
This terminal at Community 25, Tema is built to hold over a million litres comes after establishing one at Tarkwa to serve the mines.
Stakeholders including chambers, clients in mines and energy, traditional authority among others were present to support.
Credit: Kwame Yankah