The Petroleum Commission will in January next year set up a Technology Transfer Unit as it works to boost indigenous capacity in the upstream petroleum industry.

An assessment by the Commission of its local content policy showed there were various factors inhibiting technology transfer to indigenous Ghanaian companies and joint ventures.

“The Commission realized urgent steps must be taken to address some challenges hindering the advancement of technology transfer to indigenous Ghanaian companies and joint ventures”, Egbert Faibille, Chief Executive of the Petroleum Commission said as he addressed the opening of the 2021 Local Content Conference in Accra.

Ghana’s major commercial production started in 2010, while the modern history of oil and gas started in 1847. This means Ghana has to catch up real fast. To develop the industry faster, technology transfer is one of the important policy measures adopted by the government.

After a series of engagements with the upstream petroleum companies over the last few months, the Petroleum Commission is taking steps to address the gap.

This is critical to increasing the country’s competence in core technical areas.

To attain this feat, the Petroleum Commission boss emphasized the need for collaboration with International Oil Companies to refute the popular assertion that development of local content capacity is not in the interest of multinational corporations.

“The Petroleum Commission on its part, is strengthening existing modalities to champion and accelerate technology transfer in Ghana’s upstream petroleum industry”, he added.

The establishment of the Technology Transfer Unit under the Local Content Directorate of the Petroleum Commission in January 2022, according to Mr. Faibille Jnr, is evident of his outfit’s resolve to walk the talk and attain government’s vision for the sector and ultimately create and export future oil and gas technologies

This year’s conference is themed “Optimising Technology Transfer in Ghana’s Upstream Petroleum Industry.”