Comprehensive  Ghana Oil and Gas news, information, updates, analysis


News in Brief

Ghana Cabinet Okays Local Content Policy for Oil Sector

  • SOURCE: | qwesa2big
  • Oil and gas companies operating in Ghana will soon be mandated to use only local products and services in the execution of their operations.

    The new requirement follows the approval on June 6th by the Ghanaian cabinet of the Legislative Instrument (LI) for the Local Content Policy for the oil and gas sector, which takes immediate effect when approved by the country’s parliament.

    The LI is expected to enhance the country’s local content policy in the oil and gas industry.

    Local Content refers to the involvement of Ghanaians and Ghanaian businesses in all sectors of the hydrocarbon industry. These could refer to employing a certain percentage of Ghanaian citizens to work directly in the sector, to involving local businesses in areas such as oil block allocation, drilling, aviation, transportation, catering, oil distribution amongst others.

    The country’s Minister of Information and Media Relations, Mahama Ayariga, outlined some of the highlights of the LI.

    “Cabinet did approve proposals to send a LI to parliament for passage to enforce as law the Local Content Policy in the petroleum industry.”

    “The key highlights of the policy include; that priority should be given to Ghanaians in the granting of licensing and agreements in the petroleum sector in all operations, where foreigners want to be involved they must partner with Ghanaians who should carry at least a five percent equity interest and that is reviewable at the pleasure of the Minister given certain circumstances.”

    “Also there is an elaborate reporting procedure which requires that the companies use local services and products manufactured by Ghanaian companies and they must also make investments in research and carry out programs aimed at technology transfer to Ghanaians,” he stated.

    One of the problems analysts have highlighted about the country’s nascent petroleum industry is that of commercial oil production taking off when the necessary laws have not been passed. Ghana discovered oil in 2007 and commercial oil production began in 2010.

    Source: Ventures Africa

    Get the latest news and updates on Ghana’s oil and gas value chain by following us Reporting Oil and Gas on twitter @oilgasghana and like our facebook page and get at us on Google+. Subscribe to our group to get updates.

    Leave a reply

    About Us
    Reporting Oil and Gas project was launched on 4th June 2009 at Takoradi, Western Region, Ghana by Penplusbytes (www.penplusbytes.org) with the vision of providing a one stop online information and knowledge about Ghana’s oil and gas sector read more
    Twitter Activity Stream
     

    Partners We are proud to be associated with:

    Skip to toolbar