Nigerian oil and gas company, Oando PLC has been making claims around the world the Ghana National Petroleum Company (GNPC) has awarded it a contract to develop Ghana’s gas infrastructure, but the GNPC says the claims are false.

Oando issued a press statement on October 4, 2010 and also posted the same statement on its website (www.oandoplc.com) on October 5, 2010 claiming Oando-SIAPEM Consortium has a one billion dollar contract to partner GNPC to develop the country’s gas infrastructure.

The statement was titled “Ghana selects Oando for $1bn Natural Gas Project”, and was signed by Head of Corporate Communications, Meka Olowola. But the gas infrastructure Project Coordinator at GNPC, Mr. Victor Sunu-Attah says Oando has no such contract with the GNPC.

He explains that Oando was involved in a selection process when GNPC was looking for a company to partner it to develop Ghana’s gas infrastructure, but says the selection process was inconclusive and no contract has been awarded to Oando. Mr. Sunu-Attah also says Oando did not meet the requirements for the project, adding that a small part of that project has been contracted to French engineering and subsea oil company Technip.

He says Technip is to construct and install a 14-km 12 inch pipe deepwater for the country’s gas infrastructure, which is yet to be constructed. Meanwhile, Oando has issued a second press statement on October 30, 2010 insisting it has been selected to partner the GNPC to develop Ghana’s gas infrastructure.

The statement, signed Odion Jude Aleobua of Oando’s Corporate Communications, says Oando-SAIPEM Consortium was contracted through a letter dated September 1, 2009, signed by Director of Operations at GNPC, Mr. Thomas Manu, on behalf of the Managing Director of GNPC.

Effort to reach Mr. Thomas Manu to comment on the issue proved futile. But Adom Business News will follow the issue and bring you update. ENDS