The Minister for Energy, Boakye Agyarko has said that government is determine the enabling environment for Indigenous Ghanaian companies to thrive. The minister said direct revenue from the petroleum operations is not enough for the country but creating value through local content and local participation is the priority of government.

He added that the country is focused on developing indigenous gas and it is expected to create the enabling environment for further investments into ancillary projects.

He explained that the local content law seeks to ensure local participation in all aspect of the gas and oil value chain but promoting the optimization of value addition and job creation through the use of local expertise, goods and services, business and financing in the petroleum industry value chain and their retention in the country.

According to the minister, the country took the necessary steps for the implementation of the western corridor gas infrastructure project, out of which the Ghana National Gas company was established to monetise Ghana’s Natural gas resources.

Speaking at the Stakeholder Forum on Oil Discovery, Boakye Agyarko explained that a number of projects had being embarked upon notably the 60 kilometre offshore pipeline from the jubilee field to Atuabu, 150 million scarfs capacity gas processing plant located at Atuabo and a 110 kilometres onshore gas delivery line from Atuabo to Aboadze.

“Future expansion of this facility is being considered to accommodate additional plant production. Discussions are currently ongoing with (WAPCo) West African Gas Pipeline Company for the reverse flow of gas from Aboadze to Tema thus further stretching the reach of this project” he added.

In the quest to sustain growth and increase the benefit that will accrue to the country, the minister said government through the petroleum commission will implement policies that will strengthen the local content policy and regulation to encourage the participation of the locals.