For GreaterGhana’sGood
WRITTEN BY Laura Watling PROJECT DIRECTED BY Jamie Waite Mr O A Danquah CEO, GNPC 2 Issue 107 · Business Enquirer Magazine
Established in 1983, the petroleum company employs 600 people, all with a goal to supply efficient fuel to meet Ghana’s increasing energy needs. As well as being the country’s leading exploration, development and production company, it is also the national gas sector aggregator in Ghana.
GNPC has strategic partnerships with international oil companies (IOCs) such as Tullow, ENI and Aker Energy.
For GhanaGoodGreaterGhana’sNationalPetroleumCompany
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Service vessel operating nearby an offshore oil drilling platform GNPC
, better known as GNPC, was born out of a mission to lead sustainable exploration, development, production and disposal of the petroleum resources in Ghana.
The Neoproterozoic basin covers a staggering 40% of Ghana’s land mass. Having acquired over 2500-line km of 2D seismic data, newly-ap pointed CEO , OA Danquah, described the find ings to Business Enquirer as “very encouraging”. Further to the results, GNPC plans to focus its research in the North and South. After further seismic data is captured and preparatory work completed, the business plans to drill its first onshore well at the start of 2023.
Becoming a stand-alone operator As explained by Mr Danquah, GNPC has a vision to become a “stand-alone operator, providing comprehensive end-to-end management of ex ploration to production and supply phases of an oil and gas asset” To achieve this, the business is engaging in several strategic initiatives, as well as The Voltaian Basin.
GNPC Ghana has four sedimentary basins in which GNPC and its partners current ly have three oil fields in production phase: Jubilee, TEN and Sankofa GyeNyame. Between them, the fields deliver around 180,000 barrels of oil per day, not including as sociated gas or condensates. Further to this, GNPC has its pioneering onshore exploration project- The Voltaian Basin Project.
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One of such initiatives is the development of a re served offshore block - Block 1. GNPC are soon to embark on operations in this prospective shallow water block, inlucing 3D seismic acquisition. “We may seek to solicit a partner who can add both tech nical and financial value,” said Mr Danquah in his discussion with Business Enquirer. In addition to Block-1, GNPC is currently under going work in another big offshore development - Deep Water Tano - Cape Three Points. This project, which is being operated by partner Aker Energy, is set to deliver its first oil in late 2024.
We may seek to solicit a partner who can add both technical and financial value. “ “ Resources Feature Issue 107 · Business Enquirer Magazine 5
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“Our Research and Technology Centre will integrate smart laboratories and virtual reality systems to sup port rig and reservoir simulations as well as scenar io-based safety training,” explained Mr Danquah. It plans to also implement advanced robotics and drone systems to make inspection, detec tion, monitoring and maintenance more effi cient. In addition, GNPC plans to invest in digi tisation and automation to reduce exploitation risk and downtime, whilst improving reservoir estimates and drilling performance.
As part of GNPC’s strategy to become a standalone operator, it is constructing its own, ul tra-modern, Research and Technology Centre in Ghana’s capital of Accra.
The new facility will support the development of innovative research to increase efficiency of all GNPC’s core operations as well as securing its sustainable future.
Stepping into the future
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GNPC’s Research and Technology Centre will also play a role in its shift to reducing its carbon footprint. “We are mindful of the global energy transition from Big Oil to Big Energy,” said Mr Danquah. As such, GNPC is working with its partners on initiatives, such as reducing gas flaring, as well as taking a look at its internal procedures. By 2023 GNPC plans to be paperless, as well as im plement a tree planting campaign, both meth ods of offsetting its carbon output.
GNPC
“Nothing we do is more important than hiring people; and at the end of the day you bet on people, not strategies,” explained Mr Danquah, when he spoke with Business Enquirer.
Playing into GNPC’s strategy to become a standalone operator, it has developed its People Policy.
GNPC has carefully recruited 600 staff, all with the relevant skills and a passion to learn and grow. Staff training is a priority for GNPC. Each year, staff have secondment opportunities with GN PC’s joint-venture partners. This gives employ ees the opportunity to increase their industry ex posure, develop their soft skills and gain practical experience. As well as this, skill development sponsorship is also available to employees.
Starting in July 2022, GNPC have embarked on the decommissioning of the Mr. Louie Platform in the Saltpond field, the first project of its kind in Ghana. Commissioned in 1970, the platform is now at the end of its operational life and is de Asteriorating.reported in OGV Energy, Mr Danquah has said that “With several oil and gas platforms expected to be decommissioned in the future, GNPC personnel will gain additional hands-on technical capabili ties by collaborating with other experienced indus try experts during this exercise”.
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The heart of Ghana For GNPC and CEO Mr Danquah, people are cru cial to its culture - both employees and those in the community.
GNPC proudly undertakes social programmes, under the GNPC Foundation. It strives to im prove the quality of life of Ghanian citizens.
GNPC’s CSI division is engaged in high-impact activities which aim to create lasting socio-eco nomic effects. Working alongside government agencies to champion participation in the oil and gas sector by local companies, it aims to empower Ghananians to capitalise on opportu nities within the energy value chain. www.gnpcghana.com
Mr Danquah also considers its latest decommis sioning project as an opportunity for staff to de velop their hands-on experience.
GNPC has recently restructured its Corporate Social Investments programme, focussing on three key areas: Education and Training, Eco nomic Empowerment and Environment and So cial SomeAmenities.keyprojects carried out by the Foundation include 5000 local and 500 overseas scholar ships, construction of an ultra-modern sickle cell blood and treatment facility, and 86 san itary facilities across Ghana, 22 of which are Betweencompleted.2017 and 2020, the GNPC Foundation undertook 341 infrastructure projects. In the same period, it also awarded scholarships total ling in excess of £21 million.
“The oil may be explored by us, but the actual oil and gas molecules belong to every citizen,” shared Mr Danquah with Business Enquirer.
Resources Feature The oil may be explored by us, but the actual oil and gas molecules belong to every citizen. “ “ Issue 107 · Business Enquirer Magazine 9
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