Business

Ghana Seeks To Boost Oil Sector With Data Acquisition and Regulatory Reforms

Story Highlights
  • PC takes steps to improve the country's oil and gas sector
  • It has signed agreements with four international firms
  • Ghana is currently facing data gaps

Ghana’s Petroleum Commission (PC) is taking steps to improve the country’s oil and gas sector attractiveness. Here’s a breakdown of the key initiatives:

Deeper Geological Understanding

  • The PC signed agreements with four international firms to acquire 3D seismic data on Ghana’s offshore oil fields.
  • This will enhance understanding of oil reserves and potentially attract more investors.
  • Existing investors, like Tullow, are also encouraged to invest in data acquisition.

Tailored Fiscal Regimes for Oil Blocks

  • The PC is exploring amendments to create a tiered fiscal regime for oil blocks.
  • Riskier blocks would benefit from more favorable terms to incentivize exploration.
  • This replaces the current “one-size-fits-all” approach.

Addressing Challenges in Investment

  • The PC acknowledges the decline in new Petroleum Agreements (PAs) since 2018.
  • Efforts are underway to encourage existing operators to invest more in exploration and production.
  • Regulatory reforms are planned to make the sector more flexible and attractive to new investors.

Focus on Data Quality and Regulatory Reforms

  • Experts like Ms. Yorm Ama Abledu highlight the need for high-quality data to attract investors.
  • Ghana is currently facing data gaps and low data quality in its oil basins.
  • Regulatory reforms are seen as crucial to address these challenges and unlock Ghana’s oil potential.

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