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The Ministry of Energy has explained that a total of $250,750.49 has been paid to the by Saltpond Offshore Producing Company Limited (SOPCL) state.
This is in a reaction to the report of the Public Interest Account Committee ( PIAC) which stated that no revenue accruing from the oil production in the Saltpond Field has been paid into the Ghana Petroleum Fund .
Mr. Daniel Sowa Ablorh-Quarcoo, Chairman of PIAC, had stated that despite efforts by the committee to know the activities of the Saltpond Field, there were no records to show the revenues of the production from the field.
A statement issued in Accra Yesterday and signed by Edward Bawa, Head of Communication Unit of the Ministry, said the expected inflows to government form SOPCL were in respect of surface rental and royalty payments on crude oil liftings.
The statement said “surface rental of $605 for 2011 is yet to be paid to government by SOPCL, however total royalties of $146,482.27 for 2011 from four liftings by SOPCL were paid into Government Non–Tax Revenue Account (Account number 02-239600660-00)”.
It explained that, that was an old account which royalties of had been paid before the Petroleum Management Account was enacted last year.
The Statement said SOPCL consequently paid $104,268.12 in respect of first quarter liftings into the Petroleum Fund (Account number 021082366).
The ministry said as part of its effort to enhance transparency and be accountable, it would always lay bare the fact when necessary.
“The ministry takes this opportunity to reassure all Ghanaians that it will continue to manage the oil and gas sector in a transparent, honest, and accountable manner and therefore welcomes any suggestions and criticisms that would foster these principles with the sector,” it said.
It can be recalled that the Ghanaian Times on Friday May 18, 2012 published that no revenue accruing from oil production in the Saltpond Field has been paid into the Ghana Petroleum Holding Fund.
Source: The Ghanaian Times