The Minority in Parliament has disputed claims of some 550 million barrels of oil discovered in the deep waters off the Ghana coast, and has explained such reports as untrue.
The Minority indicated that there is a deliberate attempt by the Minister of Energy, Mr. Peter Amewu, to deceive Ghanaians into believing that there is a new discovery of 550 million barrels of oil by Aker Energy.
In a press statement signed by the Minority’s Spokesperson on Mines and Energy and Member of Parliament for Damongo, Mr. Mutawakilu Adam indicated that the attempt is to divert attention from the government’s actions and inactions, resulting in a loss of opportunity for the country to enhance the benefits of an already existing discovery, for the people of Ghana.
The Minority averred that Aker Energy, after the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) ruling, was drilling appraisal wells based on the successes chalked by Hess Energy Ghana and the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), to continue works that were already ongoing, and to determine the areal extent and commercialise the discoveries that were made by Hess Energy Ghana in 2012 and 2013.
Aker oil discovery
On Thursday, January 10, 2019, a Norwegian oil and gas firm, Aker Energy indicated that it has discovered oil in commercial quantities off Ghana’s coast.
The oil and gas operator revealed that the exploratory drilling indicated an estimated 450 to 550 million barrels of oil equivalent (mmboe) in the Pecan field, 166 kilometres (100 miles) off Takaradi in the Western Region.
Aker Energy added that further exploration could increase total volumes to about 600-1,000 mmboe.
The government, through the Energy Minister, Mr. Peter Amewu indicated that the new discovery is good news for Ghana and it will serve as a potential boost to the economy.
Source: GhanaJustice/S.Ayisi
