Takoradi, July 29, GNA - Professor Kofi Awoonor, the Chairman of the Council of State, has appealed to Tullow Oil, the majority stakeholder in Ghana's Jubilee Oil Field, to consider channelling part of its gains to develop the nation especially the region in which it is operating.

He said though the nation stood to benefit from the oil industry, Tullow Oil must not neglect the communities in which it operates when it starts making profits from the oil production.

Prof Awoonor referred to the gold mining town of Obuasi in the Ashanti Region and said infrastructure in the area was poor though the mining company made a lot of gains from the industry.

He said this when management staff of Tullow took turns to brief members of the Council of State on their operations at the Air Force Base at Takoradi on Wednesday.

The members paid a two-day working visit to the region to learn about the oil and gas industry as well as the progress of work at the Jubilee Filed by Tullow Oil.

Alhaji Asuma Banda, a member of the Council, said expectations were high and care must be taken to ensure that the other foreign exchange earner crops like cocoa are not neglected else the nation would be plunged into economic hardships.

He expressed concern about Tullow's materials kept on the premises of the Air Force Base and sought to know if it was a temporary or permanent place for the items.

Answering questions from members of the Council, members of Tullow's management Mr Kofi Esson, Chief of Staff, Mr Joseph Klemetsu and others said there were adequate preparations made on security and environmental protection.

They said mindful of bitter disaster experience, especially oil spillage, the company worked closely with the Environmental Protection Agency and all other oil experts to operate in compliance with international standards.

They reiterated that Tullow's first production of oil would definitely take off in the last quarter of the year as programmed, when it will produce 120,000 barrels of oil a day.

Mr Michael N.A. Aryeetey, Senior Geologist of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) also briefed the Council of State members on Ghana's oil and gas industry.

He said there were several oil discoveries along the coast that are yet to be appraised.

Mr Emmanuel Armah Buah, the Deputy Minister of Environment, appealed to Ghanaian companies to position themselves well to enable them to be at the forefront of providing services in the oil industry while the youth must also acquire skills to qualify them to gain jobs.

He said Tullow's equipment at the Air Force Base was temporary as a permanent place was being sought to keep them.