Petroleum Commission, Indonesian Envoy explore joint oil and gas ventures
Ghana and Indonesia are poised to deepen bilateral ties in the energy sector following a high-level meeting between Indonesia’s Honorary Consul to Ghana, His Excellency Paskal A. B. Rois, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Petroleum Commission, Madam Victoria Emeafa Hardcastle.
The meeting, held in Accra, focused on exploring investment opportunities and establishing long-term collaboration in the upstream oil and gas industry. H.E. Rois emphasised Indonesia’s strong track record in offshore and onshore petroleum operations and expressed the keen interest of Indonesian companies, including state-owned oil and gas giant PT Pertamina, in investing in Ghana’s energy sector.
“Indonesia has vast experience in oil and gas exploration and development, and we see great potential for cooperation between our two countries,” H.E. Rois stated. He added that Indonesian firms are actively seeking opportunities in West Africa, with Ghana identified as a key destination due to its stable regulatory environment and available exploration blocks.
In response, Madam Hardcastle welcomed the overture and expressed enthusiasm about the prospects of strategic partnerships. She noted that Ghana currently has several available oil blocks in deep-sea, shallow waters, and onshore locations that are open for international investment.
“Ghana is open for business. We are actively seeking credible partners who can bring in not only capital but also technical expertise and knowledge sharing,” she said.
Beyond investment, education and capacity building featured prominently in the discussions. H.E. Rois introduced the Indonesian government’s KNB Scholarship programme, which offers Ghanaian students, particularly those pursuing engineering and technical disciplines, the chance to study in Indonesia. He proposed that the Petroleum Commission leverage the scheme to upskill its workforce.
“There is also an opportunity to partner with Pertamina University for short-term courses and full academic programmes that are specifically designed for the oil and gas industry,” he said.
Madam Hardcastle embraced the educational proposal and called for immediate collaboration to equip Ghanaian professionals with critical skills to enhance local capacity in the sector. “This is a timely initiative that complements our national agenda of local content and human capital development,” she noted.
She also extended an invitation to Indonesian energy companies to participate in the upcoming Africa Oil Week, which will be hosted in Ghana for the first time. The international expo, she said, offers a valuable platform for potential investors to interact with African governments, regulators, and private sector actors.
H.E. Rois pledged to promote the Africa Oil Week to stakeholders in Indonesia and assured that efforts would be made to secure their participation.
With over 280 million people spread across more than 17,000 islands, Indonesia is recognised as a global player in energy development.