Indigenous companies operating various services in the oil and gas sector have been awarded contracts to the sum of US$1.7 billion in the ongoing SankofaGye-Nyame (SGN) oil and gas project which is expected to produce first oil next month.

According to Eric Agyei-Gyan, Local Content and Community Relations Coordinator, ENI, which operates the SGN together with its partners, the project has been crafted to ensure that the economy makes the most out of it.

Mr. Agyei-Gyan made this revelation after the Aviation Minister Madam Cecilia Dapaah paid a visit to the Onshore Receiving Facility (ORF) and also to assess the current state of the helipad at Sanzule at Ellembelle District in the Western Region.

He pointed out that ENI and its partners during this short term they have been in operation have had a huge impact socially and economically on the local people.

An amount of US$1.7 billion dollar contract have been awarded to indigenous companies 240 contracts in all and that is a huge for economy like Ghana,he said.

He mentioned that about 150 Ghanaians have been employed to work in various capacities of the project. This figure represents direct employees and 240 contracted all working directly for Eni Ghana.

For every contract that we give out, we ensure that there is local content aspect which have serious focus on training and skill development, he said.

Mr. Agyei-Gyan said Eni ensures that there is technology and skill transfer in their contracts they award to foreign companies so that in the years to come, it will empower the indigenous businesses.

He explained that in terms of social initiatives, the ENI Foundation has invested US$8.4 million in the Western Region in terms of community health posts, and rehabilitated some hospitals, trained about 200 health staff among others.

He announced that there is going to be a US$9million investment within the company catchment area made up of Livelihood Restoration Plan, Community Quick Impact Projects, Community Investment as well as Fisheries Management Plan.

Currently as a company, we are doing our best to help government in developing the economy in terms of finances, human capacity development among others he said.