Ghana: Oil Worker Attempts Suicide On FPSO Nkrumah
Workers on board FPSO Kwame Nkrumah in the Western Region of the Republic of Ghana are still in a state of shock after a man identified as a South African national allegedly attempted suicide on the oil vessel on Tuesday, June 18.
It is unclear what might have triggered the suicide attempt but a source on board the FPSO told Takoradi based Empire FM, the South African jumped from the vessel into the waters.
The unpleasant situation was quickly brought to the attention of the Offshore Installation Manager (OIM) and other top managers who quickly called in the divers to save the said man.
The divers with the assistance of some tugboats around managed to resuscitate the foreign national.
He has since been medevacked to West African Rescue Association (WARA) health facility in Accra for proper medical attention.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
Ghana: Remove All Taxes On LPG If It Can’t Be Subsidised – LPG Marketers Association Urges Gov’t
Vice Chairman of the LPG Marketers Association, Mr. Gabriel Kumi
Government has been urged to overlook taxing Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) if it is to realize its quest of ensuring a sizeable number of Ghanaians have access to the product for domestic, commercial and industrial consumption in some time to come.
According to the Cylinder Recirculation Model (CRM), which is the implementation model for the National LPG Policy government envisages that at least 50% of Ghanaians should have access to safe, clean and environmentally-friendly LPG for domestic, commercial and industrial usage by 2030.
However, the Vice Chairman of the LPG Marketers Association, Mr. Gabriel Kumi, has said in view of the saturated market of the product, the only way to increase use is by creating access for new users.
“Unfortunately,” he stated, “new users have been priced out of the market, thus not being able to afford the product”. He therefore suggested that consideration should be given to removing all taxes from the product if government is not ready to subsidise it to create affordability.
The removal of taxes, he insisted, will significantly bring down the cost of the LPG and make it possible for the ordinary Ghanaian to afford it.
Mr. Kumi was speaking at the second edition of the 2019 regional stakeholder engagements of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) in Kumasi, and revealed that the LPG Marketers Association intends to mount pressure to see this is done.
He also opined that implementation of CRM will take a while to bolster the numbers employed in the sector, until consumption of the LPG increases.
“We have to ensure that the current 6,500 people that are employed in the sector are very fully absorbed, so that in when consumption starts going up it can boost the workforce,” he stated.
The regional stakeholder engagements are aimed at interfacing with the public on implementation of the cylinder recirculation model for the distribution of LPG.
The Chief Executive Officer of NPA, Mr. Alhassan Tampuli, in addressing the gathering among others reiterated that the policy seeks to develop a market-driven structure to ensure safety, increased access and adoption of LPG; and to enhance the capacity of existing regulatory institutions in order to enforce the new market structure’s regulatory requirements.
It is also to “ensure the existence of robust and standard Health, Safety and Environmental practices in the production, marketing and consumption of LPG; and ensure the sustainability of supply” among others.
He said the “Cylinder Recirculation model of LPG distribution will be implemented fully”, adding that the relevant licences will be issued and safety protocols will be keenly observed to ensure safety of the public.
He stated that a number of consultations have been done with various stakeholders, and efforts continue to ensure that others across the country are engaged.
Mr. Tampuli further noted that among the things earmarked for implementation of the CRM is included: risk assessment of LPG facilities in 66-second cycle schools in the country; compliance monitoring of all assessed LPG refilling outlets, second cycle school facilities, and selected facilities in the value chain.
There are also plans to convert high-risk stations into cylinder distribution/exchange points, and undertake capacity building for NPA HSSE staff and industry groups on safety issues among others.
You will agree with me that over the years Ghana’s petroleum downstream industry has witnessed a number of unfortunate accidents as a result of the misuse and inappropriate handling of petroleum products, especially Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).
The issue of safety has been high on the agenda of President Nana Akufo-Addo’s government, and this has culminated in introduction and implementation of the Cylinder Recirculation Model for LPG.
The Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr. Simon Osei Mensah, while commending the NPA for the stakeholder engagement series on the CRM, assessing the expectations of consumers, identifying Investment among others, also said it will facilitate an all-inclusive implementation.
He said it will also “help meet government’s goal of ensuring at least 50% accessibility to safe and environmentally-friendly LPG by the year 2030”.
The Regional Minister said there is a need to “implement the policy and assess how it solves the peculiar needs of the industry and consumers as a whole”.
Source: B&FT
Puma Energy Grabs Three Health and Safety Awards
Officials of Puma Energy receiving the awards
Puma Energy, the global integrated midstream and downstream energy company with a local focus, has swept not one, but three awards at the 2019 HESS Awards which celebrates business leaders in Health and Safety nationwide.
The multiple award-winning energy company has won the awards for HSSE CEO of the Year, CSR Excellence and Road Safety Education – all three awards demonstrating a clear commitment to leading the way in spreading safety culture to the wider society.
Mr. Yahaya Yunusa, the Managing Director of Puma Energy Distribution Ghana limited, was recognized as HSSE CEO of the Year 2019 for his relentless focus on ensuring that the company upholds the highest safety standards in all its operations, be it in aviation, B2B, bunkering, lubricants or retail at its 80-plus service stations nationwide.
Receiving his award, Mr. Yunusa expressed gratitude for the recognition and encouraged his team to continue to uphold the high safety standards that Puma Energy emphasizes.
“I am sincerely grateful for the acknowledgement. Indeed, this is a testament to the safety culture we uphold at Puma Energy. I am proud to have led such a team of dedicated individuals to achieve outstanding results in the area of health and safety across all our operations and initiatives. I also extend this award to our transporters, retail partners, suppliers and customers who have complied with our safety regulations to date,” said Mr. Yunusa.
Upon Puma Energy’s receipt of the Excellence in CSR and Road Safety Education Awards, the Brand, Events and Communications Officer, Ms. Laura Asimeng, had the following to say:
“At Puma Energy, we are all about fuelling Ghanaian journeys, and this is something that we intend to do safely at all times.
“It however does not end with us – we are passionate about spreading our safety culture to the wider public. With Road Safety NGO AMEND and the Rotaract club for example, we provided road crossing infrastructure to the schools in Agbogbloshie and North Legon; with our Transporters, we hold quarterly road safety quizzes to ensure they are on top of road safety knowledge. We leave no stone unturned in ensuring all we interact with are ‘Puma Safe’”, said Ms. Asimeng.
The HESS Awards are organised by IanMatSun Global Services Limited, organisers of the Sustainability and Social Investment Awards in partnership with Firmus Advisory, a leading research company in Ghana.
The HESS awards were created to celebrate companies for their exceptional performance and innovation focused on occupational safety, security and the environment.
Puma Energy is no stranger to the world of delivering high standards. Winner of the Emerging Brand of the Year and Lubricant Product of the Year Awards at the Ghana Oil and Gas Awards, Puma Energy does not falter in delivering excellence to its customers and communities alike.
With over 15 years in developing robust health and safety systems worldwide, Puma Energy strives to deliver petroleum products to its customers swiftly, safely and reliably at an affordable price.
The HESS Awards are organised by IanMatSun Global Services Limited, organisers of the Sustainability and Social Investment Awards in partnership with Firmus Advisory, a leading research company in Ghana.
The HESS awards were created to celebrate companies for their exceptional performance and innovation focused on occupational safety, security and the environment.
Puma Energy is no stranger to the world of delivering high standards. Winner of the Emerging Brand of the Year and Lubricant Product of the Year Awards at the Ghana Oil and Gas Awards, Puma Energy does not falter in delivering excellence to its customers and communities alike.
With over 15 years in developing robust health and safety systems worldwide, Puma Energy strives to deliver petroleum products to its customers swiftly, safely and reliably at an affordable price.
Breaking News: One Dead In Dawhenya Filling Station Explosion
The deceased being covered
One person is reported dead this morning, following a minor explosion at Runel Petro and Gas Filling Station at Dawhenya, in the Prampram District in the Greater Accra Region.
The victim, 47 year old Anthony Ahiabu, who is a worker at the filling station, met his untimely death at about 6am Tuesday, June 18, 2019.
An eyewitness, who spoke to energynewsafrica.com, said the victim was cooking in a building, which houses the staff, close to the filling station.
He said the station took delivery of gas from a tanker into their storage tank “and when the driver finished discharging the fuel, he pulled the pump but unfortunately some amount of gas from the pump traced the fire to the room, thereby, sparking fire.”
According to him, the timely intervention of personnel of the Ghana Fire Service saved the situation from escalating.
Tema Regional Fire Service Operations Officer DOII William Blankson told energynewsafrica.com that they have commenced investigations into the matter.
Meanwhile, the body of the deceased has since been deposited at the Tema general hospital morgue awaiting autopsy.
Centurion Group To List On Leading Europe’s Stock Exchange
File photo
South Africa based Centurion Law Group, an energy advisory firm, is set to become the first African legal energy advisory firm to be publicly listed on Europe’s leading stock exchange this year.
The law firm announced this in a statement copied to energynewsafrica.com.
The feat would represent a natural step for Centurion, given the group’s solid marker share within the oil and gas sector in sub-Saharan Africa and its increased activity.
Last year, the statement said Centurion engaged the services of IMANI-African lawyers on demand to establish Centurion Plus, as Africa’s leading flexible legal services model that would offer cost savings and efficient flexible legal services across the continent.
Through Centurion Plus, corporate clients throughout the continent can select from a pool of about 190 thoroughly vetted, on-demand attorneys for temporary and project-based legal services.
According to the statement, NY Ayuk, CEO of Centurion, said: “Centurion has always differentiated itself by its ability to adapt to change, get the deal done and being pan-African and pro-African.
“The African legal market has changed a lot and we are proud to be a leader for legal transformations in Africa.
“We are looking forward at being listed in a few months and are truly excited about this new phase of growth for the company and our clients.”
Ghana: I’m Stabilizing The Power Sector– Energy Minister
John-Peter Amewu
The Minister for Energy in the West African nation, Ghana, John-Peter Amewu, has told the chiefs and people of Hohoe in the Volta Region that he is working hard to ensure stability in power supply in the country.
Mr Amewu said although there are a few challenges facing the energy sector, the government is working hard to ensure that those problems are resolved.
He made the comments when he accompanied the Minister of Health, Mr Kweku Agyeman-Manu to pay a courtesy call on the chiefs and traditional leaders of the Gbi Traditional Area, Hohoe.
“I am trying to stabilize the lights though there is still a problem but I am working toward that,” he announced.
The country started experiencing shortfalls in power supply a few months back but the problem was tackled.
Source: ClassFMonline.com
Total To Renew Libyan License
Total plans to renew its business licenses in Libya according to a new Reuters report.
The French firm’s continued operations in the country is contingent on the renewal of the licenses.
In the case that the licenses are not renewed, there will be several oil companies waiting to take over within 24 hours, according to the Tripoli-based Minister of Economy, Ali Issawi.
The renewal initiative that included 39 other firms came after the suspensions of their expired licenses, however, the ministry allowed a three-month grace period for renewals.
Issawi denied the move had a political motive, saying that some firms were operating without a license for a long time.
Oil firms are not the only ones whose licenses are under threat, firms like Thales, Siemens, and Nokia all need to renew their business licenses.
Senyo Hosi Dedicates Outstanding Oil and Gas CEO Award To CBOD Members
Mr. Senyo Hosi, CEO of CBOD
Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber of Bulk Oil Distribution Company (CBOD), Senyo Hosi, has dedicated a recent award for his contribution to the oil and gas industry, to all the members of his team at the chamber.
Mr Hosi was honoured with the Outstanding Chief Executive Officer of the Year 2018 award, at the ninth Ghana Entrepreneurs and Corporate Executives Award held in Accra.
He was recognized for demonstrating outstanding corporate vision, business excellence, innovation, strategic leadership and growth in the downstream petroleum sector.
Mr Hosi was not present at the event but his assistant, Emily Kayi received the award in his stead.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic newspaper in a later interview after the awards ceremony, Mr Hosi said, “I think it is in recognition of my work on ESLA, my policy contributions, [and] advisory work and that stability and objectivity.”
He added the recognition was refreshing and a boost for him and his team to do their work quietly.
The awards ceremony is organized annually to celebrate the sterling contributions of key personalities in various sectors of Ghana’s economy.
PROFILE
Senyo Hosi is a Ghanaian thought leader, finance and economic policy analyst and experienced management professional with years of experience in the downstream petroleum industry and across other sectors.
He is also a renowned industry advocate and has been instrumental in the development of major policies in Ghana’s energy sector.
Senyo Hosi in 2018 received the Osagyefo Young Leadership Award and in 2016, the Most Outstanding Oil and Gas Personality (Downstream).
Mr Hosi holds an MBA in Finance and an MA in Economic Policy Management from the University of Ghana, Legon.
He serves on a number of corporate and public boards including the Private Enterprises Foundation (PEF), the Ghana Highways Authority (GHA), Legacy Bonds Limited (LBL) and NDK Capital Ltd.
Pan African University For Water And Energy Opens 2019 Admission
| The Pan African University for Water and Energy Sciences (PAUWES) in the North African country, Algeria, has opened admission for students who wish to enroll and pursue its two years Masters programs this year. Located in Tlemcen, Algeria, PAUWES, provides higher education and applied research in the fields of water, energy and climate change – an important contribution to sustainable development in Africa. The admission process for Master programs in water and energy (both engineering and policy tracks) starting in September 2019 is now open. All AU citizens (including diaspora) are encouraged to apply, particularly women and candidates from Southern, Central, and Northern Africa PRESS RELEASE |
| Pan African University, educating a new generation of Pan-African En-trepreneurial Solutioners: 2019 Student Call now open |
| The Pan African University Institute for Water and Energy Sciences including Climate Change (PAUWES) hosting students from 34 African countries, is offering four distinct two-year Master programs |
| TLEMCEN, Algeria, June 17, 2019/ — The Pan African University Institute for Water and Energy Sciences including Climate Change (PAUWES) (www.PAUWES.dz) in Tlemcen, Algeria provides higher education and applied research in the fields of water, energy and climate change – an important contribution to sustainable development in Africa. The admission process for its Master programs in water and energy (both engineering and policy tracks) starting in September 2019 is now open. All AU citizens (including diaspora) are encouraged to apply, particularly women and candidates from Southern, Central, and Northern Africa. Building a prosperous and stable Africa calls for a new generation of African leaders capable of and committed to facing the vast challenges of the continent. These challenges include water scarcity, renewable energy, and climate change. The Pan African University (PAU), a key initiative of the African Union Commission, is dedicated to this mission. The Pan African University Institute for Water and Energy Sciences (PAUWES) is hosted by the University of Tlemcen in Algeria. Since its establishment in 2014, 278 students from 34 countries across Africa have enrolled, and by now 152 students have been successfully graduated from its programs. “PAUWES is a prototype of the Africa of tomorrow, for which we are laying the foundations,” said Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, during his official visit to PAUWES in 2018. PAUWES benefits from the support of the host country of Algeria and the key and thematic partner Germany. “United in our diversity, proud of the Pan African University as a symbol of Africa United. Diversity and Pan Africanism are our strength” Said Prof. Zerga during the Africa Day celebration 2019. Today, PAUWES offers four distinct two-year Master programs. Students striving to be future engineers have the choice between the Master of Science (MSc) in Water Engineering and the MSc in Energy Engineering. Students interested in policy-making and governance can choose between the MSc in Water Policy and Energy Policy. PAUWES recently revised the curricula to ensure that the study programmes are practice-oriented and students obtain the skills needed to tackle the challenges of the future.). The language of instruction is English, and students have the opportunity to study French at the onset of the program. PAUWES strives to balance theory and practice through national, continental and international internships, case studies, and field trips. To provide the students with specific technical skills in their field of interest, PAUWES offers electives (e.g. solar, wind, geothermal and biomass energies, water and sanitation, integrated water resource management, policy analysis or leadership). Graduates benefit from career pathways in public administration, policy-making, research, private enterprise, consulting and civil society. Access to the Institute’s international expert network, research partnerships, career-promotion programs and the forthcoming entrepreneurship centre further boosts the graduates’ profiles. The Career Services Support at PAUWES aims to “not only to graduate the best of Africa. We are supporting the students to become the best graduates FOR Africa”, said Dr. Amazigh Dib, Private Sector Coordinator PAUWES is committed to support its students to participate in international competitions s such as the Schneider GoGreen competition and programmes such as at the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (https://bit.ly/29xGqbT), Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) Entrepreneurship Programme as well as UN conferences. Student initiatives such as the participation in the as Solar Decathlon competition are highly welcomed at the institute in Algeria Under the framework of the African Union’s Agenda 2063, PAUWES places a special emphasis on recruiting and empowering female students. In the 2018 student’s selection a 50 ratio has been achieved The Institute facilitates women-focused networking events and workshops to empower young female Africans. To further develop its vision of diversity, PAUWES also encourages applicants with disabilities and candidates from under-represented regions (Southern Africa, Central Africa, Northern Africa) to apply. All PAUWES students receive full scholarships (covering tuition and living expenses) following a competitive admission process. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Pan African University, the Institute for Water and Energy Sciences (PAUWES). Media Contact: General media enquiries Ms. Khadidja Bousmaha, Communication Officer PAUWES c/o Abou Bekr Belkaid University of Tlemcen B.P. 119, 13000 Tlemcen, Algeria Email: [email protected] Phone +213 540 34 43 63 Tel: +213 43 41 35 |
Australian Upstream Regulator Okays ExxonMobil’s Drilling Plan For Gippsland Basin
An environment plan by US oil and gas giant ExxonMobil for its exploration drilling campaign at the VIC/P70 offshore Australia has been accepted by Australian regulator NOPSEMA.
ExxonMobil submitted a revised environment plan for exploration drilling in the Gippsland basin, 90 kilometers off the East Gippsland Victorian coast, Australia, to include the ultra-deepwater Sculpin-1 well in February 2019.
Following several requests for further information by the regulator, the plan was accepted on Monday, June 17, 2019.
The VIC/P70 exploration drilling operational area is located approximately 90 -100 km from shore in Exploration Permit Area VIC/P70. Water depth within VIC/P70 ranges from 200 m to over 3 km, with the drill locations, Hairtail-1, Baldfish-1 and Sculpin-1, at about 359m, 665m, and 2,300m, respectively. Block VIC/P70, in the deepwater Gippsland basin, was acquired by Esso Deepwater, a wholly owned subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corporation, in 2Q 2017.
VIC/P70 contains the Dory, Angel and Archer-Anemone fields, as well as the Fangtooth prospect, and incorporates the area previously the subject of blocks VIC/P45 and VIC/P59, previously explored by Apache.
According to NOPSEMA, exploration drilling activities in the VIC/P70 operational area are scheduled over an estimated 60-day period, starting in 3Q 2018 (Baldfish-1 and Hairtail-1), and an estimated 75 days in late 3Q – early 4Q 2019 for Sculpin-1.
The VIC/P70 exploration drilling operational area is located approximately 90 -100 km from shore in Exploration Permit Area VIC/P70. Water depth within VIC/P70 ranges from 200 m to over 3 km, with the drill locations, Hairtail-1, Baldfish-1 and Sculpin-1, at about 359m, 665m, and 2,300m, respectively. Block VIC/P70, in the deepwater Gippsland basin, was acquired by Esso Deepwater, a wholly owned subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corporation, in 2Q 2017.
VIC/P70 contains the Dory, Angel and Archer-Anemone fields, as well as the Fangtooth prospect, and incorporates the area previously the subject of blocks VIC/P45 and VIC/P59, previously explored by Apache.
According to NOPSEMA, exploration drilling activities in the VIC/P70 operational area are scheduled over an estimated 60-day period, starting in 3Q 2018 (Baldfish-1 and Hairtail-1), and an estimated 75 days in late 3Q – early 4Q 2019 for Sculpin-1.
Kenya: Lamu Coal Plant To Create More Than 1000 Jobs.
File photo
The construction of the 1050 Megawatt Lamu Coal plant in the East African country, Kenya, is expected to create about one thousand seven hundred and sixty one jobs during the initial stage.
The $2 billion plant would be constructed by Amu Power Company Limited, a single-purpose entity that is 51 percent owned by Centum Investments, a Kenyan investment firm with the remaining 49 percent being held by Gulf Energy.
The plant would help produce electricity for some four million households in Kenya where only 56 percent of its population have access to dependable supply of electricity.
Energy experts believe the provision of reliable power to 4 million households can stimulate economic growth and reduce the 90 percent dependence on kerosene by most rural folks.
Currently, over 70 percent of energy produced in the East African country comes from biomass , primarily charcoal , firewood and agricultural waste burned in households for heat and cooking , contributing to deforestation and adverse health impact on the environment.
Energy analyst believe the plant would be the least expensive source of power in Kenya with a tariff rate of 7.53 kwh as compared to geothermal of 9 /kwh and wind or solar of 12/kw.
Despite stiff opposition to the construction and environmental issues raised about the project, operators are assuring the plant would be equipped with the latest air quality control technology that would ensure local pollutants reduction in alignment with the latest and strictest standard.
Compared to the 2017 World Bank limits, the plant would meet the lowest limit on Sox, 10 percent lower on NOx and 25 percent lower on particulate matter.
President Uhuru Kenyatta in May 2017 signed an agreement with Chinese firm after meeting with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.
The project is expected to takeoff after the approval of a financial arrangement for construction as well as a court ruling later this month on the project.
Aker Solutions Appoints New Chief Finance Officer
Ole Martin Grimsrud
Norwegian oil firm, Aker Solutions, has appointed Ole Martin Grimsrud as its new chief financial officer (CFO).
Grimsrud, who will take up his new role on August 1, will replace Svein Oskar Stoknes, who is taking over as CFO of Aker ASA on the same day.
Grimsrud joined Aker Solutions in 2012 as vice president of finance for the subsea business. He has held several senior management positions in the company since. Grimsrud previously held various positions within finance, strategy and operations in the Norwegian industrial groups Elkem and Norske Skog.
Stoknes joined Aker Solutions in 2007 and was named CFO in September 2014. He has previously held “numerous key positions” in the company, according to Aker Solutions.
“I am delighted to welcome Ole Martin to the team as our new CFO,” Luis Araujo, Aker Solutions CEO, said in a company statement.
“His strong performance here at Aker Solutions shows he is well-suited for the role, and I know he will become a good addition to the executive management team,” he added.
“It has been a real pleasure to work with Svein over the last five years. Svein created a lot of value for Aker Solutions and we wish him all the best in his new position with Aker ASA,” Araujo continued.
Aker Solutions engineers the products, systems and services required to unlock energy, according to its website, which shows that the company employs 15,000 people. The company, which traces its roots back to 1841, is headquartered in Fornebu, Norway
Fuel Under Delivery: Frimps Oil Denies ‘Cheating’ Customers
One of the Oil Marketing Companies in the West African nation, Ghana, which is being accused of cheating its customers has denied reports that customers at some of its filling stations are being shortchanged.
According to Frimps Oil, it values its customers and would therefore not cheat them in any way because of their trust in the quality and affordability of their products and services.
This follows inspections carried out by the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) which has exposed 10 fuel filling stations engaged in under-delivering.
They cited Shell, Motorway Extension; Total, McCarthyHill; GOIL Mile 11; Frimps Oil, Tetegu junction; GOIL, Galilea; Frimps Oil, Spintex Road; Glory Oil, Spintex Road; Allied Oil, Sakaman; Shell, Amanfrom West and Goodness Energy, Kasoa.
A statement issued by the Authority said in addition, that two companies Galaxy Oil, Spintex Road and Agapet, Spintex Road had broken the GSA seal without permission.
It said in summary, out of 65 stations visited, 55 delivered right quantities whilst 10 under-delivered, while two companies had broken the GSA seal without permission.
However, in a statement to explain their side of the story, Frimps Oil said the GSA “were at our station at Tetegu on March 18 and our station passed the inspection and verification tests carried out on that day. The Tetegu service station has not been ‘cheating’ our customers as they so put it.”
It added that “Frimps Oil as a corporate entity will never make a deliberate attempt to ‘cheat’ our customers. The issue at hand where the GSA locked some of our pumps (not all) happened on May 2, and since then, it has already been corrected. The GSA had already visited 60 of our filling stations and just two of them had some technical issues with their pumps.”
The company said they have technicians that are always travelling within their stations to ensure that all of their pumps are working correctly.
“This is because, since pumps are machines, sometimes they can either oversell or undersell. As such, we have corrected the issues raised by the GSA at the Tetegu and Spintex service stations,” it stated.
It has assured customers that it “will never seek to act dishonestly by willfully cheating its customers in order to gain an unfair advantage.”
Petroleum Commission Secures Training For Ghanaian Students In Canada
Egbert Faibille Jnr., CEO of Petroleum Commission
Ghana’s upstream regulator, Petroleum Commission (PC), has secured an arrangement with Baker Hughes/GE to train five Ghanaians to become internationally accredited and certified specialized welders to enable them serve in the oil and gas sector.
The one- year training programme, which is estimated at a cost of $250,000 is part of efforts to support the Accelerated Oil and Gas Capacity (AOGC) programme.
The programme is aimed at building the capacity of the youth in the West African nation by equipping them with the relevant skills required for the upstream petroleum industry.
The trainees who would undergo a course in stainless steel welding, at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) in Canada, would equip the beneficiaries on their return, to be able to train many more Ghanaians to support the oil industry.
The students, drawn from the Regional Maritime University, Takoradi Technical Institute, Kikam Technical Institute and the Jubilee Technical Institute were selected based on their academic track record, recommendations from the institutions as well as interviews conducted by representatives from the Localization, Local Content and AOGC Departments at the PC.
They would benefit from a package that caters for their tuition, visa, accommodation and transportation.
The agreement was in response to a request made by Mr. Egbert Faibille Jnr Chief Executive Officer of the Petroleum Commission, for Baker Hughes to support Ghana’s local content development efforts and the AOGCP when a delegation from the Company paid a courtesy call on the Commission in September last year.
Mr Faibille Jnr said the efforts would help reduce the Expatriate-Ghanaian ratio in the upstream petroleum industry.
At the meeting, the company assured the PC of its commitment to support the AOGC programme by hinting of an already existing training of about 100 Ghanaian students at an online digital academy at a cost of $6,000 each.
Mr Faibille Jnr said with the path taken to invest in training Ghanaian welders, Baker Hughes would register its name in the annals of the Ghanaian upstream petroleum local content and localization efforts.
In a related development, Mr Faibille, together with other government officials have undertaken a familiarization visit of the NAIT premises in Edmonton, Canada, on the side-lines of the just ended Global Petroleum Show.
NAIT, North America’s largest welding training centre was selected based on its capacity accreditation, technical expertise and experience in providing welders with the skills required to participate in the oil and gas industry.
Dr Paul Frempong, Consultant of the AOGC Project at the PC, noted that many of the welders in Ghana are unable to participate in the industry because they did not hold the certifications required by the industry.
“In order to meet international standards and with the reciprocity agreement with the US, the trained welders will receive two certifications from the Canadian Bureau of Welding and the American Welding Society. These two certifications are one of several welding certifications needed to participate in the oil and gas industry” Dr. Frempong stated.
On his part, Mr. Ignacio Garcia, Snr. Account Manager at NAIT, said he was optimistic that the welders would be better equipped to undertake welding projects after completing the programme.
“We have undertaken similar projects for about 40 companies and the results have always been positive. Rest assured, your welders are in safe hands and they would surely return to Ghana with the required skills to undertake welding projects in your industry,” Mr. Garcia noted.
Source: GNA