The Managing Director of Bulk Energy Storage and Transportation (BEST) Company Limited, formerly BOST, Edwin Alfred Provencal, was on Friday night crowned as the 2023 Energy Personality of the Year at the 7th edition of Ghana Energy Awards held at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra, the capital of Ghana.
He faced stiff competition from Dr. Ben K.D Asante , CEO of Ghana National Gas Company; Dr Ismael Ackah Ph.D, Executive Secretary of Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), Joseph Kweku Horgle, Chief Executive Officer of JK Horgle Transport & Company; Michael Bozumbil, Chief Executive Officer of Petrosol Ghana , Samuel Kofi Dzamesi, Chief Executive Officer of Bui Power Authority and Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, Chief Executive Officer of National Petroleum Authority (NPA).
Last year Mr. Provencal was crowned the petroleum sector CEO of the year 2022 at the 6th Edition of Ghana Energy Awards.
BOST is a state-owned petroleum strategic stock company mandated to keep strategic stocks for the West African nation.
Mr. Provencal was appointed Managing Director of BOST in August 2019 by President Akufo-Addo after the late George Mensah Oakley was relieved of his position as MD of the company.
At the time he assumed office, BOST’s assets, such as pipeline infrastructure, storage tanks, barges, tugboats and other vital installations had been abandoned for years without repairs.
Besides, BOST was saddled with huge legacy debts which dated back under the previous government.
However, the sordid state of the company had changed with the company seeing massive improvements.
From a loss-making company, BOST has seen a turnaround with the company posting Gh¢31 million profit in 2020, Gh¢161 million profit in 2021 and a net profit of Gh¢342 million in 2022.
President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo presented the award to Mr. Edwin Provencal.
The award came along with a beautiful, designed stool bearing the inscription Energy Personality of the Year.
Apart his award, BOST was also adjudged Energy Company of the year.
Commenting on the award, Mr. Provencal praised the board and management team of the company for their wonderful contributions towards turning around the fortunes of the company.
He assured that there is no turning back stating that State Owned Enterprises have what it takes to be profitable as evidenced by the performance of BOST over the last couple of years.
“Immensely proud and humbled by the honors received at the Ghana Energy Awards last night. I was awarded Energy Personality of the Year, with BOST winning Petroleum Company of the Year. Thanks to H.E. President Akufo-Addo for the recognition, and to my team at BOST for their exceptional work.
“Congratulations to all the awardees for their inspiring achievements. Grateful to the Ghana Energy Awards for this esteemed acknowledgment, driving our commitment to excellence in the energy sector,” Mr Provencal wrote on his Facebook page.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com