Sahara Group expands LPG fleet with new carrier to bolster Ghana’s clean energy supply

Sahara Group has commissioned a new liquefied petroleum gas carrier, the MT Asharami Ghana, marking a major expansion of its maritime fleet and strengthening the LPG supply chain in Ghana as demand for cleaner household fuels rises across West Africa.

The 40,000-cubic-metre dual-fuel vessel was formally commissioned in Ulsan, a global shipbuilding hub. Designed to transport LPG more efficiently and with lower emissions, the ship is expected to enhance supply reliability and logistics capacity for Ghana and neighbouring markets that depend partly on imported cooking gas.

Speaking at the ceremony, John Dramani Mahama described the vessel as a milestone in strengthening the infrastructure supporting global LPG distribution.

“Expanded shipping capacity is critical to improving supply security, reliability and efficiency for countries that rely partly on LPG imports,” Mahama said, noting that the vessel reflects the growing importance of maritime logistics in meeting Africa’s energy transition goals.

Mahama commended Sahara Group and partners, including WAGL Energy, for demonstrating “leadership, technical expertise and strategic foresight” in advancing responsible energy distribution. He added that the project highlights “the power of partnership” in building safer and more resilient energy supply chains across the continent.

Sahara Group executives said the vessel forms part of a broader strategy to support Ghana’s clean-energy ambitions through integrated infrastructure spanning shipping, storage and downstream distribution.

Wale Ajibade, Executive Director at Sahara Group, said the vessel would enhance LPG supply security while supporting the country’s expanding adoption of the fuel.

“MT Asharami Ghana is more than a vessel; it is part of a deliberate strategy to strengthen LPG supply security and support Ghana’s clean energy ambitions,” Ajibade said. He added that the ship will provide an additional 25,000 metric tonnes of stock security for the Ghanaian economy alongside new onshore storage capacity currently being developed.

Sahara is also building land-based LPG storage infrastructure in Tema, where a 12,000-metric-tonne terminal is under development. The first phase, with a capacity of 6,000 metric tonnes, is scheduled for completion in May 2026.

Temitope Shonubi, another Executive Director at Sahara Group, said the new vessel is central to the company’s integrated LPG infrastructure strategy, which aims to connect maritime transport with storage and regional distribution networks.

He also acknowledged the role of Yaa Serwaa Alifo, managing director of Asharami Ghana, for championing the decision to dedicate a vessel of the ship’s scale to serve Ghana and its landlocked neighbors.

With the addition of MT Asharami Ghana, Sahara Group’s LPG carrier fleet now totals six vessels with a combined capacity of about 202,000 cubic metres. Through partnerships with WAGL Energy, NNPC Limited and other stakeholders, the company is also developing an additional 270,000 cubic metres of shipping capacity scheduled for delivery by September 2028.

The investment aligns with Ghana’s policy goal of increasing LPG adoption to 50% of households by 2030, up from roughly 30 percent currently. Sahara Group estimates that its expanding infrastructure could support clean-energy access for more than 35 million people while reinforcing Ghana’s role as a regional LPG trading hub for neighbouring West African economies.

The commissioning also comes during Sahara Group’s 30th anniversary year, underscoring its strategy to build long-term energy infrastructure while pursuing responsible growth across global markets.