Halliburton Ghana Operations Limited has committed an estimated US$15 million in petroleum engineering software, training and research support to strengthen local capacity development in Ghana’s upstream oil and gas sector.
The commitment forms part of a new partnership between Halliburton, the Petroleum Commission and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) to equip students and faculty members with industry-relevant skills and technology.
Under the agreement, Halliburton will provide advanced petroleum engineering software to the Department of Petroleum Engineering at KNUST, as well as training programmes for students and lecturers and support for academic research.
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The initiative, valued at US$15.1 million, is expected to give students and faculty access to technologies widely used in the global petroleum industry.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Petroleum Commission, Emeafa Hardcastle, described the partnership as a strategic investment in Ghana’s future petroleum workforce.
“The Commission is pleased to collaborate with Halliburton on local content initiatives aimed at strengthening capacity development and maximising value creation in Ghana’s upstream petroleum sector, particularly in human resource development,” she said.
She noted that the software donation, training programmes and research support would enhance the technical capabilities of students and lecturers while preparing them for opportunities in the upstream industry.
For Halliburton, the partnership forms part of its broader commitment to developing local expertise across Africa.
The company’s Vice President for Sub-Saharan Africa, Antoine Berrel, said investing in Ghanaian talent was critical to building a resilient and competitive energy sector.
“We believe sustainable value creation comes from empowering local institutions with the tools, knowledge and practical experience they need. This collaboration reflects Halliburton’s long-standing commitment to developing local content,” he said.
The agreement provides a framework for knowledge exchange and long-term cooperation between the Petroleum Commission and Halliburton. It builds on an earlier partnership signed in 2019, which focused on developing the capacity of the Commission’s engineering and geoscience staff.
The latest collaboration extends that partnership to tertiary education, creating a pipeline of skilled professionals for Ghana’s upstream petroleum industry.
The Petroleum Commission has identified capacity development as a key component of Ghana’s local content strategy, encouraging international oil and gas companies to invest in skills development alongside their commercial operations.
Through the partnership with Halliburton and KNUST, the Commission aims to strengthen research, innovation and practical training to ensure future petroleum engineers graduate with experience in globally recognised industry technologies.
Other officials present at the signing ceremony included Craig Beebee, Senior Business Development Manager, Sub-Saharan Africa North at Halliburton; Paulina Effisah, Halliburton’s Government Relations and Local Content Manager; and members of the Executive Management of the Petroleum Commission.