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Petroleum Commission Urges Oil & Gas Industry Investors to seek help on Local Content Development

  • SOURCE: | qwesa2big
  • The Ghana National Petroleum Commission (GNPC) has entreated potential Oil and Gas Local Content providers to consider undergoing the required legal registration process at its outfit before carrying out any form of transaction in the country.

    Addressing various exhibitors and oil and Gas merchants from across the sub region at the just ended 2013 Offshore West Africa Conference and Exhibition at the Accra International Conference Center last week, Legal advisor to the commission, Dr. Juliette Twumasi-Anokye emphasized the need for foreign investors to acquaint themselves with the Local Content obligations that governs the industry.

    Local content describes the range of benefits the oil and gas industry can bring to the areas where it operates. It however grants companies the enabling environment to provide measurable benefits by employing and training local people, buying supplies and services to enhance the capacity of local suppliers, supporting community development work and among others

    The 3 day conference which started on Wednesday March 23 to Thursday 25 2013 was aimed at providing a forum for exchange of ideas on technical, environmental and business challenges associated with oil and gas exploration and production activities in West Africa and the sub-region.

    The commission’s legal advisor also noted that companies must endeavor to secure business permits as well as make their procurement plans and among others available to the Petroleum Commission while cautioning that criminal penalties will be awarded on companies that go contrary provisions in the local content legislations.

    Twumasi-Anokye further advised that, such institutions to stick to employing indigenous workers rather than hiring the services of expatriate workers which according to her would rarely be acceptable unless certain key conditions are met. She also outlined some significant factors that will boost the local content industry.

    Operations officer for North West Petroleum and Gas in Nigeria Bassy O. Bassy, recommended the to ensure access to academic skills within universities that company staff lacks. He said, the move will also improve market awareness since staffs will gain insight into the research problems or interests of industries.

    He regretted the dubious recruitments by way of political appointment, favoritism and a host of others which he said have become prevalent in various institutions and hindering the process of efficient and transparent partnership.

    He called for a change in attitude as he proposed that a University and Industry partnership unit for local content companies’ be established and equipped with objective qualified and competent staff.

    Engaging participants in a much more lively discourse, Managing Director for RDFC Holdings in Ghana, Kwame Acqua observed that, despite the zeal to become Bosses in the industry, many have neglected the need to acquire the requisite knowledge from experienced industry players.

    A participant who attempted answering Kwame’s question on how Ghana can equally achieve the success of others in the industry cautioned that, Ghana can easily be lured into bad transactions if stringed measures are not in place to ensure proper management of the sector.

    He advised GNPC to consider educating the citizenry especially hawkers on local content provision so they can explore the rich opportunities that come along with Oil and Gas exploration.

    Source: The Business Analyst

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