Sixteen (16) companies, including five majors, submitted a total of sixty applications for the five acreages on offer in Ghana’s First Licencing Round.
The Ministry of Energy (MoE) describes these companies as “high calibre companies with proven track records”, and sees their interest as “a vote of confidence in the Ghanaian economy”.
The applications, opened publicly Friday, December 21, are for prequalification for Expression of Interest (Eol) for competitive bidding for three Blocks (GH_WB_02, GH_WB_03 and GH_WB_04) in the Western Basin and direct negotiations in respect of two Blocks (GH_WB_0S and GH_WB_06), all offshore the Republic of Ghana.
Two of the applications were invalidated as they were for Block GH_WB_01 which has been reserved for the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC).
“In line with this, fifty eight (58) valid applications will be considered for the next stage of the process”, the Ministry says.
The applicants include ENI, Cairn, Harmony Oil and Gas Corporation, ExxonMobiL, CNOOC, Qatar Petroleum, BP, VITOL, Global Petroleum Group, Aker Energy, FIRST E&P, Kosmos, Sasol and Equinor.
“Government is determined to use a transparent process as specified by law to shortlist companies that have the capacity and will qualify based on prescribed criteria” said Mohammed Amin Adam, the country’s Deputy Minister of Energy.
“We will collaborate and partner with them to explore and exploit the resource for our mutual benefit and most importantly the benefit of the Ghanaian people” said Lawrence Apaalse, Chairman of the Licensing Round Committee.
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