Explorco, the upstream exploration subsidiary of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), has signed a project management consultancy contract with LubriMax Ghana Limited and its technical partner, Well Engineers and Planners, to commence drilling activities in the Voltaian Basin.

The agreement, signed at the Explorco head office in Accra on Wednesday, March 4, marks a key step toward Ghana’s first onshore petroleum exploration campaign.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Managing Director of Explorco, Samuel Opoku Arthur, said the company is confident the collaboration will help achieve its target of spudding the first exploration well by the third quarter of 2026.

He urged the partners to prioritise skills transfer to Ghanaian engineers who will lead subsequent phases of the programme.

What the partnership means

Under the agreement, LubriMax and WEP will provide project management consultancy services for the entire onshore drilling campaign.

LubriMax, a Ghanaian industrial supplier with operations across the oil and gas value chain, will coordinate local logistics, procurement support and interface management.

Its technical partner, WEP, brings decades of international well engineering experience, including well design, drilling supervision, risk management and health, safety and environmental oversight.

On his part, the Chief Executive Officer of LubriMax, Blaise Kudatugu, said the contract represents a historic opportunity for Ghana’s energy sector.

“This is the first time Ghana is undertaking onshore petroleum exploration at this scale. For us, it is a privilege to support a national project of this importance and to ensure it is executed to the highest engineering and safety standards,” he said.

He added that the partnership with WEP will combine local knowledge with international technical expertise to manage the drilling programme effectively.

“Our role is to provide end-to-end project management consultancy for the onshore exploration campaign. With WEP’s well engineering background and our local operational support, we are confident the project will be delivered successfully and bring economic value to the country,” Mr Kudatugu stated.

About the Voltaian Basin project

The Voltaian Basin Project is Ghana’s flagship onshore petroleum frontier initiative.

It forms part of a broader national strategy to diversify hydrocarbon exploration beyond offshore fields.

Explorco has indicated that preparatory works are progressing steadily, with the first exploration well expected to be drilled in 2026.

The project is anticipated to stimulate economic activity in northern Ghana through job creation, local procurement opportunities and infrastructure development.

The companies

GNPC Explorco is the upstream exploration and production arm of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, mandated to build national capacity for independent operatorship and to lead exploration in Ghana’s inland sedimentary basins.

LubriMax Ghana Limited supplies high-quality lubricants, oils and chemical products to sectors including oil and gas engineering, automotive manufacturing and agriculture, while providing technical advisory and delivery services.

WEP, headquartered in Hoogeveen, the Netherlands, specialises in well engineering, drilling management and technical consultancy for oil and gas, geothermal and solution mining projects worldwide.