We will deepen trust and collaboration with international oil companies - Krapa
The Minister of State at the Ministry of Energy, Mr. Herbert Krapa, has given the strongest assurance that the government will deepen trust and collaboration with international oil companies in the country.
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He guaranteed that, as a business-friendly government, such relationships would be established in a mutually beneficial manner “with sustainability as the watchword,” while building more Ghanaian capacity in the sector.
Mr. Krapa made this assurance during the commissioning of the new Operational Headquarters of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) in Takoradi on Thursday.
Known as the ‘Energy House,’ the new headquarters, situated close to the Ghana Secondary Technical School (GSTS), is a seven-storey modern office complex with a basement. It is equipped with Smart Office Management Systems and various high-technology specifications. The facility includes a 300-seater auditorium, a gymnasium, a cafeteria, and a business center on the ground floor. It is designed to achieve energy efficiency and meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certification.
Mr. Krapa said the strategic vision of President Akufo-Addo to establish the operational office of GNPC in Takoradi would make GNPC more efficient and more responsive in managing the nation’s oil and gas resources.
“Mr. President, your vision will have an immediate impact on the local economy here in Takoradi and the Western Region. Ancillary businesses will be attracted, jobs will be created, local talents will be located, and economic activity will boom,” he added.
He explained that the benefits of the project, both direct and indirect, would change the lives of hundreds of thousands of people, “because one man saw ahead and saw it through.”
Mr. Krapa noted that the sector had witnessed a steady increase in oil production since Ghana’s commercial discoveries, with Jubilee, TEN, and Sankofa Gye Nyame contributing significantly to national revenue and socio-economic growth.
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Jubilee is estimated to ultimately recover 715 million barrels of oil and 662 billion cubic feet of gas. TEN is projected to recover 204 million barrels of oil and 371 billion cubic feet of gas, while Sankofa Gye Nyame has an estimated total recoverable reserve of 178 million barrels of oil and 1.1 trillion cubic feet of gas.
He added that Pecan, Afina, GNPC Block 1, ENI Block 4, the expanded shallow water block, the south deep-water block, the Voltian Basin, and several others hold potential for more oil and gas production.
Mr. Krapa said gas infrastructure projects, including the processing plant at Atuabo and the Takoradi-Tema interconnection project, have helped improve energy security and reduce reliance on imported liquid fuels for power generation.
“Due to your vision, Mr. President, we look to the future with pride and hope for our oil and gas industry. We will work harder to ensure more exploration and production of our oil and gas reserves; we will maximize natural gas usage for power generation and industry,” he added.
Tracing the history of the Energy House, Mr. Krapa pointed out that long before winning the seat, President Akufo-Addo’s conviction was unambiguous. The vision was that GNPC’s operational head office should be located in the Western Region, stemming from the belief that GNPC’s operations and oil and gas resources should not be located miles apart.
To achieve this vision, Mr. Krapa noted, President Akufo-Addo cut the sod for the commencement of work in August 2020, underscoring his desire for synergy between the offshore activities and GNPC’s operations, facilitating an expedited workflow in petroleum operations.
This, he explained, would ensure that the local community benefits directly from the resources they host—a commitment he knows the President remains unapologetically dedicated to.