Star Oil Blames ICUMS Glitch Amid Industry-Wide Fuel Loading Challenges

Star Oil Blames ICUMS Glitch Amid Industry-Wide Fuel Loading Challenges

Star Oil Ghana has dismissed calls from the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS) for an apology, attributing recent fuel shortages at its service stations to a technical glitch in the ICUMS platform rather than deliberate hoarding or market manipulation.

In a social media post , CEO Kwame Tieku stressed that if the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) confirms the problem is not linked to ICUMS but to its own ERDMS, the company will issue a formal apology.

The controversy comes as some Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) accuse Bulk Oil Distribution Companies (BDCs) of creating what they describe as artificial fuel shortages.

Industry insiders claim certain BDCs have withheld supplies in anticipation of a major fuel price adjustment scheduled for March 16, 2026, potentially profiting from the expected price hike at the pumps.

Several BDCs are reported to have increased their selling prices, particularly affecting smaller OMCs that rely on cash-and-carry arrangements to procure petroleum products.

These firms argue that the sharp cost rise has made fuel loading financially challenging, compounding supply constraints across the market.

Operational challenges over the past weekend further disrupted petroleum product distribution, making it difficult for many OMCs to load fuel.

As at  Monday morning, multiple operators were still reporting problems, raising concerns about potential disruptions in nationwide product availability.

The Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC) confirmed the challenge and said it is coordinating with regulators to find swift solutions.

Star Oil has clarified that the shortages observed at its outlets are not linked to attempts to exploit the upcoming price increase. Instead, the company attributes the problem to the temporary failure of the GRA ICUMS system, which prevented fuel loading over the weekend.

Because Star Oil operates some of the highest-volume stations in Ghana, the impact of these disruptions has been more immediate and visible compared to smaller competitors.

Industry analysts warn that the upcoming March 16 price adjustment could mark one of the largest increases in recent years, driven by rising international crude oil prices amid geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

Market watchers are closely monitoring whether OMCs can maintain adequate supply while adhering to uniform pricing guidelines recently introduced by the NPA.

In response to growing consumer concerns, some industry players are calling for a review of government-imposed levies in the petroleum pricing structure to cushion end-users from the anticipated price shock.

Meanwhile, the NPA and COMAC are under pressure to ensure the technical and operational issues affecting fuel distribution are resolved before the impending price revision.