Deputy Energy Minister Joseph Cudjoe has indicated that Norwegian oil company, Aker Energy, has finalised all the relevant agreements to commence operations in the country.

The company is expected to begin oil exploration at the end of 2021 after it acquired Hess Corporation’s stake in the Deepwater Tano Cape Three Points block in the Western region in June this year.

Mr. Cudjoe who is in Norway as part of the Petroleum Commission’s delegation to the Offshore Northern Seas Conference (ONS 2018) is optimistic about the prospects for both parties.

“Aker Solutions has its right foot in the country and we are looking forward to the company starting its exploration and development phase and come in at the earliest time possible”, he told Joy Business.

Officials from the Ministry of Energy, Petroleum Commission and the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation are expected to further engage Aker during the period of the conference.

ONS 2018 Official Opening 

The Director, Africa and Midstream at Norway Energy Partners, Gulbrand Wangen who officially welcomed the Ghanaian delegation urged them to get familiar with the Aker energy project and be a part of companies that are bidding for contracts.

On his part, Chief Executive Officer of the Petroleum Commission Egbert Faibille Jnr challenged delegates to leverage and build synergies and attract the necessary investment into Ghana’s upstream sector.

While emphasizing the Commission’s determination to ensure local participation in the upstream sector, Mr. Faibille also challenged the delegates, most of the emerging companies, to also treat the mission as a learning experience.

“This is not a joy ride”, he told the delegates but an opportunity to put monies in the pockets of our people.

What would the Petroleum Commission do at ONS?

The CEO of the Petroleum Commission Egbert Faibille Jnr and Chief Director at the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, Lawrence Apaalse, would on Thursday address investors on “Making Ghana an attractive market for Investments”. 

It would be followed by business to business meetings between the Trade Mission and interested participants at the Ghana session.  

The ONS takes place every second year in Stavanger, Norway. Founded in 1974, ONS has developed into a global energy meeting place connecting international suppliers, operating companies and decision makers.