Mr Joseph Cudjoe, the Deputy Energy Minister designate,  being assisted by Lorenzo Simonelli, President and CEO - GE  Oil and Gas Global, to cut the tape to inaugurate the facility
Mr Joseph Cudjoe, the Deputy Energy Minister designate, being assisted by Lorenzo Simonelli, President and CEO - GE Oil and Gas Global, to cut the tape to inaugurate the facility

GE Oil & Gas opens facility at Takoradi Port

Ghana’s oil and gas industry has received a major boost with the inauguration of a multi-million-dollar oil and gas engineering service centre at the Takoradi Port. The facility, which is the initiative of GE Oil and Gas, a global digital industrial company, would support offshore upstream operation and development of Ghanaian expertise in the oil and gas industry.

It would serve as the primary service centre for deep-water offshore projects in Ghana.

The project  is capable of testing three subsea trees simultaneously, and 4,000 square metres of indoor and outdoor storage. 

In addition, it will directly support ENI’s Offshore Cape Three Points (OCTP) project and provide training to Ghanaian personnel over the next five years to boost the human resource base of the country.

At the inaugural ceremony last Wednesday, the President and Chief Executive of GE Oil and Gas, Mr Lorenzo Simonelli, said the project was yet another demonstration of GE’s commitment to be a major player in Ghana’s oil and gas industry.

.“The opening of the GE Takoradi facility demonstrates our commitment to developing local partnerships and capacity building to deliver effective and efficient solutions for our customers,” he said

Localisation is key

He also spoke on “localisation” as a key component of the company’s operations.. “Localisation supports growth in the communities in which we work, while increasing our productivity,” he said, adding, “As a global company, GE is uniquely-placed to have a well-rounded economic impact on the regions where we operate. We are committed to partnering with Ghana to help support building critical skills and developing infrastructure for the country’s future growth.”

Mr Simonelli said GE Oil and Gas had recruited over 30 Ghanaian staff to work at the new facility. They include two fully trained field service engineers who were working offshore to support the installation phase for the OCTP project.

The capacity building component of the project, he explained, was being carried out by GE Oil and Gas in partnership with Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) and Ashesi University.

“We are supporting the local workforce, expanding their experience and skills by providing opportunities to train and learn at other GE facilities in the region and in global locations including the UK,” he said.

Global sphere

 Emphasising the company’s  expansion programme,  the GE Oil and Gas boss said  the Takoradi project was in line with the company’s penetration into sub-Saharan Africa.

The President and CEO sub-Saharan Africa, GE Oil and Gas, Mr Ado Oseragbaje said: “Ghana has decades of development potential and we are excited to provide support to a project that will act as an important energy source for the country for many years with minimal environmental impact, while  driving the development of local infrastructure and capacity-building.”

He added, “We have the strength and scope to be able to stay close to our customers, work where they work, and invest in the training and facilities required to reduce complexity, provide faster turnaround of equipment deliveries, support our partners and build a solid talent pipeline in-country.”

The United States Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Robert Jackson, commended GE for the magnificent investment in Ghana saying it set a great example for American companies in the region.

Other contributions

The Director of the Takoradi Port, Captain Eben Afedzi, said the arrival of GE was a step towards realising a bigger dream of the country to becoming an oil and gas hub in West Africa.

He said Ghana Ports and Harbors Authority was committed to creating the perfect ambiance for business and prime focus of safety for all.

For his part, the representative of the Minister of Energy, Mr Joseph Cudjoe, who is a Deputy Minister designate, commended GE for its commitment to the development of the industry in Ghana.

 

The government, he said, was leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that all the opportunities that came with the industry were harnessed to the advantage of the country.

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